THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 


From  the  Library  of 
BENNEHAN  CAMERON 

1854-1925 

Presented  by 
his  daughters 

Isabel  C.  Van  Lennep 

and 

Sally  C.  Labouisse 


SA  .1 


I 


00022245045 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2012  with  funding  from 

University  of  North  Carolina  at  Chapel  Hill 


http://www.archive.org/details/anotheryearwithdOOjack 


ANOTHER  YEAR  WITH 
DENISE  AND  NED  TOODLES 


Frontispiece — Denise. 

"DENISE   RAISED  HER  HEAD  AND  LISTENED  FOR  THE 
SECOND  CALL." 

See  page  15 


ANOTHER    YEAR 

WITH 

Denise  and  Ned  Toodles 


GABRIELLE   E.  JACKSON 


With  Illustrations 


PHILADELPHIA 
HENRY     ALTEMUS      COMPANY 


BY  THE   SAME  AUTHOR 

Caps  and  Capers 

Doughnuts  and  Diplomas 

$1.00  each 

A  Blue  Grass  Beauty 
Fifty  cents 


Copyright,  1904,  by  Henry  Alteraus 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  I  page 

What  the  Wood-Thrush  Told 13 

CHAPTER  II 
"  Mabie  Lilly  Taintit  " .        23 

CHAPTER  III 
An  Old  Friend  and  a  New  One 35 

CHAPTER  IV 
Hart 48 

CHAPTER  V 
King  Royal  Distinguishes  Himself         ....        61 

CHAPTER  VI 
The  Sunset  Hour 71 

CHAPTER  VII 

"Oh,  We'll  Sail  the  Ocean  Blue!"     ....        85 

CHAPTER  VIII 
Pokey  and  a  Circus 99 

CHAPTER  IX 
The  Earth  Opens  and  Pokey  is  Swallowed  Up  .        .      113 

CHAPTER  X 
Troubles  Never  Come  Singly 124 

CHAPTER  XI 
A  Timely  Rescue 136 

vii 


viii  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  XII  page 

Joy  Turns  Pokey  Daft  150 

CHAPTER  XIII 
Mischief 160 

CHAPTER  XIV 
Aunt  Miranda  Comes  to  Town 174 

CHAPTER  XV 

Aunt  Miranda  and  Ned  have  a  Little  Altercation     .     187 

CHAPTER  XVI 
Aunt  Miranda  Interviews  Nero's  Owner       .        .        .      200 

CHAPTER  XVII 
Ned  Disgraces  Himself,  but  Makes  Amends         .        .      214 

CHAPTER  XVIII 
A  Birthday  Frolic  and  What  Came  of  It   .        .        .      227 

CHAPTER  XIX 
Denise  to  the  Rescue 240 

CHAPTER  XX 
A  Coasting  Episode 254 

CHAPTER  XXI 
Another  Christmas  Day  Draws  Near    ....      269 

CHAPTER  XXII 
Christmas  for  all  the  Pets 280 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 

"  Denise  raised  her  head  and  listened  for  the  second  call" 

Frontispiece 

"  '  Why  not  call  it  the  River  Kelpie  ? '  "        .        Facing  p.      94 
"  The  man  bent  down  to  avoid  the  branches  "  "  150 

"  They  had  many  things  to  talk  over  "        ,        .        "         230 


is. 


WHAT    THE    WOOD-THRUSH 
TOLD 


ANOTHER  YEAR  WITH    DENISE 
AND  NED  TOODLES 


CHAPTER  I 

WHAT    THE    WOOD-THRUSH    TOLD 

DENISE  sat  all  alone  in  her  phaeton,  her 
elbows  resting  upon  her  knees,  and  her 
chin  propped  upon  her  hands.  The 
soft  brown  curls  fell  all  about  her  face,  and  the 
brown  eyes,  which  matched  the  curls  in  color, 
looked  dreamily  off  toward  the  glassy  river. 
The  linen  carriage-robe  had  slipped  from  her 
knees  and  one  end  trailed  out  upon  the  fresh 
green  grass  upon  which  the  phaeton  stood,  for 
she  had  driven  out  of  the  main  road  into  a 
little  by-way  leading  up  the  mountain,  her 
favorite  spot  for  a  "  good  quiet  think,"  and  she 

13 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

and  Ned  Toodles  were  reveling  in  the  beauty 
of  that  early  spring  day.  The  atmosphere  was 
so  balmy,  so  filled  with  the  thousand  promises 
of  spring,  the  sun  so  warm  and  comforting, 
without  the  oppressive  heat  that  would  come 
later  in  the  season,  and  all  nature  so  entrancing 
in  the  exquisitely  soft  green  of  her  new  spring 
attire,  that  it  was  no  wonder  that  the  sensitive, 
imaginative  child  of  eleven  should  be  trans- 
ported into  a  fairy-like  reverie,  or  the  little 
pony,  which  had  now  been  her  constant  com- 
panion for  more  than  eighteen  months,  should, 
so  far  as  an  animal  can  sympathize  with  a 
human  being's  moods,  enter  into  sympathy  with 
Denise's.  He  stood  perfectly  still,  his  head 
turned  slightly  toward  the  river  upon  which 
Denise's  eyes  rested,  his  head  slightly  droo])ing, 
and  the  usually  wide-awake  eyes  partly  closed, 
as  though  he,  too,  had  nearly  slipped  away  into 
the  land  of  dreams.  One  ear,  however,  was 
turned  backward  toward  the  occupant  of  the 
phaeton,  as  though  he  had  placed  an  anchor  in 


WHAT  THE  WOOD-THRUSH   TOLD 

the  land  of  reality  in  which  his  beloved  little 
mistress  dwelt  most  of  the  time. 

To  the  right  of  the  phaeton  stretched  the 
great  woodland,  with  its  silence,  broken  only  by 
the  wind  whispering  through  the  trees,  and  its 
bird-calls.  It  was  a  dreamy,  beautiful  world 
which  Denise  and  her  pet  were  dwelling  in  just 
there  and  then,  and  a  fitting  surrounding  for  a 
child  whose  life  had  been  filled  with  sunshine, 
and  whose  nature  reflected  it,  as  well  as  for  the 
little  pony,  who  ever  since  he  had  become  hers, 
eighteen  months  before,  had  not  known  the 
meaning  of  a  harsh  word  or  unkindness. 

Presently  from  out  the  woodland  came  the 
imcomparable  call  of  the  wood-thrush,  rising 
from  its  soft,  tender  note  to  the  clear  joyous 
call  which  told  to  all  the  world  that  life  was,  oh, 
so  sweet!  Denise  raised  her  head  from  her 
hands  and  listened  for  the  second  call  which 
she  knew  would  follow.  It  came,  and  this  time 
a  little  nearer,  as  though  the  bird  were  searching 
the  woods  for  its  mate.     Then  back  went  the 

i5 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

answering  call,  but  not  from  the  bird's  mate. 
Raising  her  head,  Denise  puckered  up  the  soft 
red  lips,  and  clear  and  sweet  from  between  them 
came  the 


Then  she  listened  for  the  answer.  It  came, 
and  so  did  the  bird,  peering  cautiously  from  a 
leafy  covert,  flying  nearer  and  nearer  the  still 
figures  at  the  roadside,  hopping  questioningly 
from  bough  to  bough,  as  though  asking, 
"Where  is  she?" 

Denise  smiled,  but  made  no  sound,  and  the 
little  bird,  deciding  that  those  odd-looking 
creatures  so  near  by  were  harmless,  opened 
his  tiny  beak,  and  clear  and  sweet  at  her  very 
side  gave  his  entrancing  call  again. 

The  moment  it  ceased  Denise  repeated  hers, 
and  for  a  few  moments  a  very  bewildered  little 
bird  flitted  about  the  phaeton,  calling  and  hear- 

16 


WHAT  THE  WOOD-THRUSH   TOLD 

ing  the  answering  call  without  seeing  the  lady 
bird  whom  he  felt  sure  must  be  near  at  hand. 
It  was  altogether  too  tantalizing,  and  the  mys- 
tery must  be  solved  if  possible,  so,  gathering 
courage  from  his  intense  curiosity,  down  he 
flew  from  his  leafy  branch  and  alighted  upon 
the  wheel  of  the  phaeton,  to  give  a  still  louder 
and  more  peremptory  call.  It  was  of  no  use, 
for  even  though  his  lady-love  politely  answered 
from  between  Denise's  lips,  she  refused  to  ap- 
pear, and  with  an  indignant  flourish  of  his 
brown  tail,  off  flew  her  suitor  to  seek  a  lady- 
love less  disdainful. 

As  he  disappeared  into  the  wood  a  merry 
laugh  rippled  after  him,  which  must  have 
caused  a  surprised  flutter  from  his  wings,  and, 
giving  one  bound,  Denise  sprang  over  the 
wheels  and  landed,  upon  the  grass  beside  Ned. 
The  move  was  a  sudden  one,  but  Ned  was  used 
to  moves  of  all  sorts,  so,  giving  a  soft  little 
whinny  of  welcome,  he  aroused  himself  from 
his   dreams,  took   a  step   or   two   nearer,  and 

2—Deni»t.  \y 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

poked  his  head  under  Denise's  arm.  She 
dropped  upon  the  soft  grass,  saying  : — 

"  Ned  Toodles,  it's  springtime,  springtime, 
springtime !  I  am  so  glad,  aren't  you  ?"  And 
cuddling  both  arms  about  the  warm  head 
which  was  thrust  into  her  lap  as  she  sat  there, 
she  buried  her  face  in  the  silky  forelock  and 
"  snuggled "  as  hard  as  she  could.  Ned  re- 
sponded by  a  succession  of  subdued  whinnies, 
as  though  saying,  "  More  delighted  than  I  can 
express,  for  spring  means  green  grass,  long 
walks  with  you,  and  no  bother  with  blankets !" 

"  Now,  Ned,  listen,"  continued  Denise,  for 
these  conversations  were  by  no  means  uncom- 
mon ;  they  were  held  daily.  "  Spring  means 
warm  weather,  warm  weather  means  vacation, 
vacation  means  Pokey  !  What  do  you  think  of 
that  ?  Vacation  doesn't  mean  much  to  us,  does 
it?  It's  a  sort  of  vacation  all  the  time  with 
Miss  Meredith,  for  she  seems  to  know  just 
when  I  have  done  enough,  and  doing  any  more 
would  make  my  brain  all  sort  of  muddled  up, 

18 


WHAT  THE   WOOD-THRUSH   TOLD 

and  it's  just  fun  to  study  with  some  one  who 
makes  you  see  every  solitary  thing  you  learn, 
till  you  couldn't  help  knowing  it  unless  you 
were  as  stupid  as — as,  well  that  funny  person 
who  called  upon  mamma  the  other  day  and 
who  said  to  me,  '  So  this  is  the  examplry  child 
I  have  heard  so  much  about.  Dear  me,  I 
think  I  shall  have  to  ask  your  mamma  to  let 
you  come  and  visit  my  children  for  a  while ; 
they  are  simply  inrepressible,  and  perhaps  your 
shining  example  will  serve  as  a  beacon  to  their 
benighted  minds.' 

"Ned,  it  was  just  awful!  Really,  it  was! 
That  funny  woman  was  so  very  much  dressed 
up,  and  was  so  very,  very  polite,  but  she  used 
such  queer  words.  I  did  not  dare  look  at 
mamma  for  fear  I  should  laugh,  and  then  what 
would  she  have  thought  of  this  { examplry ' 
child  I  am  sure  I  don't  know.  Mamma  said, 
'  We  do  not  consider  Denise  a  model  child  by 
any  means,  Mrs.  Smithers  ;  she  is  no  more  than 
any  child  may  be  if  the  parents  will  take  the 

19 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

trouble  to  study  their  children's  characters  and 
learn  the  wisest  manner  of  government.  "  One 
man's  meat  is  another  man's  poison,"  you  know, 
and  I  think  the  rule  will  apply  to  children 
pretty  well,  too,  don't  you  ?'  And  then  mamma 
smiled  that  odd  little  smile  of  hers  that  just 
means  so  much.  You  sort  of  feel  its  meaning  way 
down  inside  you,  and  even  if  you  could  not  tell 
in  words  just  what  she  means  you  know  it  all 
the  same.  Then  she  said  to  me,  '  Mrs.  Smithers 
will  excuse  you  now,  Sweetheart,'  and  gave  me 
the  little  love-nod  which  means,  'I  see  you 
don't  understand  what  it  is  all  about,  but  we 
will  talk  it  over  together  when  twilight  comes 
and  we  have  our  cuddle  in  the  big  armchair  in 
the  library.'  Ned  Toodles,  that  armchair  is  just 
the  very  nicest  place  in  the  whole  wide  world, 
do  you  know  that  ?" 

Ned  evidently  agreed  perfectly,  for  he  an- 
swered, "  Hoo-hoo-hoo ! "  and  Denise  con- 
tinued : — 

"  But,  oh,  dear,  I'm  just  miles  away  from 
20 


WHAT  THE  WOOD-THRUSH   TOLD 

where  I  started  !  What  was  I  telling  you  ? 
Oh,  yes,  I  remember.  Vacation  and  Pokey. 
You  see,  Ned  Toodles,  Pokey  is  smart,  very 
smart,  indeed,  and  some  day  she  is  going  to  be 
famous,  because  she  told  me  so.  She  is  going 
to  study  hard  and  get  to  be  a  teacher,  and  buy 
a  dear  little  house  and  furnish  it  all  just  as 
pretty  as  can  be,  and  have  her  mother  live  with 
her  and  never  wish  for  a  single  thing  that  she 
cannot  give  to  her  right  off!  Isn't  that  just 
splendid  ?  But  to  do  that  she  must  study  hard 
while  she  is  a  little  girl,  and  that  is  what  she  is 
doing  now,  oh,  so  hard  !  And  she  gets  all  tired 
out  and  fidgety,  and  sort  of  criss-cross,  because 
she  doesn't  know  what  ails  her,  but  mamma 
says  it  is  because  the  brain  is  trying  to  grow 
too  fast  for  the  body,  and  Pokey  can't  keep  up 
to  it,  so  just  as  soon  as  vacation  comes  Pokey 
will  come  out  here,  and — then!" 

This  thought  was  too  tremendous  to  be  dealt 
with  in  a  sitting  position,  and,  springing  up, 
Denise  cried: — 

21 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

"Let's  go  home  just  as  fast  as  ever  we  can, 
Ned,  for  I've  a  sort  of  feeling  that  something 
fine  is  going  to  happen,"  and  she  scrambled 
into  the  phaeton,  and  was  soon  spinning 
down  the  road  toward  home — the  very  road 
down  which  she  and  her  beloved  Pokey  had 
scurried  the  previous  summer  in  their  vain 
attempt  to  escape  from  Colonel  Franklin  when 
their  taffy  candy  had  led  them  into  disgrace. 
Her  thoughts  were  still  busy  with  her  little 
friend  as  she  hurried  along,  but  she  could  not 
look  into  the  future  to  see  that  friend's  dream 
a  reality  beyond  her  most  sanguine  hopes  nor 
behold  her  grown  to  dignified  womanhood  and 
presiding  as  superintendent  of  one  of  the  largest 
schools  in  the  city  which  had  always  been  her 
home. 


22 


CHAPTER  II 


nyTED  TOODLES  trotted  along  the  road 
\  that  beautiful  afternoon,  and  Denise's 
joyous  mood  found  a  vent  in  a  charm- 
ing little  song  which  kept  time  with  Ned's  foot- 
falls and  to  which  he  occasionally  gave  a  sort  of 
staccato  accent,  by  breaking  into  a  frisky  jump. 
"  Sing-Song  Polly  "  rang  out  over  the  fields, 
the  song  growing  gayer  and  wilder  at  every 
bar,  till  suddenly  a  second  voice  took  up  the 
theme  in  a  long-drawn,  doleful  wail,  that 
brought  Denise's  warble  to  an  abrupt  ending. 
Ned  heard  it,  too,  and  gave  a  little  start  to  one 
side,  for  the  wail  seemed  to  proceed  from  the 
very  ground  beneath  them,  and  was  decidedly 
uncanny.      Denise    drew    rein    quickly,    and 

23 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

stopped  to  listen  for  further  signs  of  distress. 
They  came  very  promptly,  and  a  second  later 
she  was  stooping  over  a  forlorn  figure  which  the 
low  bushes  at  the  roadside  nearly  concealed. 

A  little  ditch  divided  the  adjacent  fields  from 
the  road,  and  at  this  season  of  the  year  the  ditch 
was  very  apt  to  be  filled  with  water  and  inhab- 
ited by  a  flourishing  family  of  tadpoles.  Seated 
upon  the  ground  at  the  further  side  of  the  ditch, 
her  feet  firmly  embedded  in  its  mud,  from  which 
she  was  vainly  striving  to  withdraw  them,  was 
a  small  child,  probably  six  years  of  age.  She 
wore  a  little  pink  and  white  checked  gingham, 
which  was  splashed  with  mud  from  top  to 
bottom ;  her  hands  were  the  color  of  a  little 
darky's,  and  her  hair,  which  perhaps  had  not 
been  in  perfect  order  upon  setting  out,  was  now 
a  hopeless  snarl  and  firmly  caught  in  the  over- 
hanging branches  of  the  bushes  at  her  back. 

Altogether  she  was  in  a  sorry  plight,  for  she 
was  held  fast  by  head  and  feet,  and,  unless 
some  good  Samaritan  appeared  upon  the  scene 

24 


"MABIE    LILLY   TAINTIT" 

to  release  her,  in  a  fair  way  to  remain  a  prisoner 
for  some  time  to  come.  But  she  certainly  had 
no  intention  of  submitting  meekly  to  the  pre- 
dicament in  which  she  found  herself,  if  lusty 
shouts  and  yells  could  compass  her  release. 

"  My  good  gracious !"  exclaimed  Denise, 
"  how  in  this  world  did  you  ever  get  in  there, 
and  stuck  tight  fast  in  the  mud  ?" 

"  I  wanted  the  littule  fat  fises !  I  wanted  the 
littule  fat  fises  !  I  want  to  get  out !  I  want  to 
get  out !"  screamed  the  child,  tugging  with  might 
and  main  to  free  her  feet,  and  thereby  only 
adding  to  the  trouble  above. 

"  Wait  a  minute !  Wait  a  minute !"  cried 
Denise.  "  I  must  get  your  hair  free  before  you 
can  move."  But  the  youngster  was  beyond  all 
reasoning  with,  and,  turning  to  Denise,  shrieked 
at  the  top  of  her  lungs :  "  Take  that  old  tree 
away  !     Take  it  away,  I  say  !" 

"  Why  don't  you  ask  me  to  take  the  whole 
woods  away,  you  little  goose !"  exclaimed  Denise 
with  some   asperity.     "  I   can't  take   the   tree 

25 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

away,  and  if  you  don't  keep  still  long  enough 
to  let  me  loosen  your  hair  from  the  branches,  I 
shall  never  in  the  world  get  you  free.  Be  still !" 
and  she  gave  the  screaming  youngster  a  little 
shake.  It  was  not  much  of  a  shake,  but  it  had 
the  desired  effect,  and  was  doubtless  the  sort  of 
persuasion  to  which  she  was  accustomed.  As  a 
rule  Denise  was  wonderfully  gentle  with  little 
folk,  but  here  was  a  situation  which  needed 
prompt  action,  and  this  small  imp  seemed  de- 
termined to  frustrate  every  move  she  made  to 
help  her. 

Denise  began  to  unwind  the  tangled  hair,  and 
was  just  upon  the  point  of  releasing  the  whole 
mop,  when,  "Oh!  Oh!  Ohuu!  They're  all 
tummin'  after  me !  Oh-h  !  Ou-u  !  Ou-u  !"  and 
up  bounced  the  youngster,  as  four  or  five  tad-, 
poles,  emboldened  by  the  silence  which  had  pre- 
vailed while  Denise  was  ^absorbed  in  her  task, 
came  swimming  toward  her,  only  to  vanish  at 
the  howl  which  greeted  them.  In  a  twinkling 
Denise's  labors  were  undone.     Up  bobbed  the 

26 


"MABIE   LILLY   TAINTIT" 

head  into  the  branches,"only  to  be  jerked  back 
again  by  the  imprisoned  feet,  and  the  hair, 
caught  more  firmly  than  ever,  drew  down  with 
it  a  slender  branch  which  gave  a  stinging  lash 
across  the  child's  face. 

If  she  had  howled  before,  she  outdid  herself 
now  when  the  pain  added  to  her  miseries,  and 
Denise  was  literally  at  her  wit's  end.  To  ever 
untangle  that  hair  now  was  out  of  the  question, 
and  what  in  the  world  was  to  be  done  ?  Every 
moment  was  adding  to  the  mischief,  and  the 
child  was  becoming  nearly  frantic.  Stepping 
to  one  side,  Denise  drew  from  her  pocket  the 
little  knife  she  always  carried,  and,  opening  the 
largest  blade,  stepped  carefully  back  to  the 
struggling  child.  Watching  her  chance,  she 
grasped  her  firmly  with  one  arm,  and,  despite 
her  struggles,  held  her  fast  while  she  cut  the 
hair  from  the  bush.  Once  that  end  was  freed, 
she  flung  the  knife  out  into  the  road,  and  set 
about  pulling  the  other  end  from  the  mud. 
The  first  jerk  produced  no  effect,  but  the  sec- 

i7 


DENISE   AND    NED   TOODLES 

ond  resulted  in  a  prolonged  "  s-k-e-r-S-w-A-P," 
and  up  flew  one  foot  without  a  shoe,  the  other 
foot  with  so  much  mud  upon  it  that  it  looked 
like  nothing  in  this  world  but  a  lump  of  wet 
peat,  while  heels-over-head  went  Denise  and 
her  charge  into  the  bushes  behind  them.  De- 
nise was  too  frightened  to  care  whether  she  was 
hurt  or  not,  but,  scrambling  to  her  feet,  turned 
to  see  what  had  befallen  Miss  Pink-Gingham. 
The  howl  had  been  scared  out  of  her,  and  she 
was  making  for  the  road  as  fast  as  her  legs 
would  carry  her.  Once  upon  terra  firma  she 
stood  still  to  wait  for  her  rescuer,  sobbing  mean- 
while in  a  subdued  sort  of  fashion. 

By  this  time  it  may  easily  be  imagined  what 
sort  of  condition  Denise  was  in,  but,  feeling 
that  it  could  not  possibly  be  any  worse,  she 
clawed  down  into  the  mud  till  she  found 
the  missing  shoe  and  drew  it  out  in  tri- 
umph. As  upon  one  other  memorable  occa- 
sion, the  linen  duster  now  served  as  a  towel,  and 

a  moment  later  Denise  had  scoured  off  her  hands 

28 


"MABIE    LILLY    TAINTIT" 

and  was  turning  her  attention  to  the  little 
blackamoor  in  the  road.  At  sight  of  the 
forlorn  little  figure  Denise's  heart  melted,  but 
to  offer  condolence,  excepting  in  the  form  of 
words,  until  some  of  mother  earth  had  been  re- 
moved, was  obviously  impossible.  So  she 
rubbed  and  scraped  as  she  poured  forth  words 
of  consolation,  and  ere  long  had  the  child  as 
much  restored  to  her  normal  color  as  was  possi- 
ble and  seated  beside  her  in  the  phaeton.  Then 
came  the  question  of  where  to  take  her,  for, 
although  pretty  well  acquainted  with  every  one 
in  that  town,  this  face  was  a  strange  one,  and 
where  its  owner  belonged  she  did  not  know. 

"  Now  tell  me  your  name  and  where  you 
live,"  said  Denise,  soothingly,  but,  as  though  the 
mention  of  home  recalled  her  recent  harrowing 
experiences,  the  child  began  to  sob  again,  and 
Denise  was  in  depair. 

"  Oh,  please  stop  crying,  and  tell  me  where  to 
take  you.  See.  I  will  drive  you  in  the  car- 
riage wherever  you  tell  me,  and  Ned  Toodles 

29 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

will  go  ever  so  fast  if  you  will  only  let  him 
know  where  to  go." 

"  Mabie  Lilly— oh  !— Taint !  Taint— it !" 
sobbed  the  child. 

"Maybe  Lilly — what?  Isn't  Lilly  your 
name  ?     Then  what  is  it  ?"  pleaded  Denise. 

"Oh,  Taint-it!  Taint-it!"  was  all  she  could 
hear. 

"  What  isn't  it  ?  Lilly  ?  Isn't  Lilly  your 
name?"  demanded  Denise,  inwardly  thinking 
that  no  name  could  have  been  a  greater  mis- 
nomer under  existing  conditions. 

"  Yes ;  yes,  Mabie  Lilly — boo,  hoo.  Taint-it ! 
Taint-it !" 

"  Oh,  dear  me,  what  shall  I  do  with  her," 
Wailed  Denise,  then,  thinking  to  find  out  the 
child's  address  if  she  could  not  learn  her  name, 
she  asked,  "Where  do  you  live?"  Tell  me 
that,  and  I'll  take  you  straight  there. 

"  In  Noo  York  !  In  Noo  York  !"  was  the  cli- 
max of  a  reply. 

"  Oh,  I'll  take  you  there  by  the  very  next 
30 


"MABIE    LILLY   TAINTIT" 

train,  of  course,"  cried  Denise ;  "  or,  perhaps, 
I'd  better  turn  around  and  drive  there  to  save 
time.  Where  in  the  world  does  she  belong,  I 
wonder.  I've  never  seen  her  before,  but  I  sup- 
pose I  might  sit  here  till  to-morrow  and  never 
find  out  from  her.  Go  on,  Ned,  and  we'll  see 
what  we  can  find  out  from  the  first  person  we 
meet,"  for  pity,  combined  with  despair  of  learn- 
ing who  the  child  was,  was  a  sore  tax  upon 
nerves  and  patience,  and,  gathering  up  her 
reins,  she  started  for  the  town,  the  youngster 
beside  her  keeping  up  an  incessant  sob  of 
"  Taint-it ;  Taint  it !  Oh,  Ma-bie  Lilly ;  Ma-bie 
Lilly— Taint-it !  Taint-it !" 

Ned  spun  along  over  the  road,  till  at  last  they 
came  to  the  section  of  the  town  dotted  all  along 
the  roadside  with  pretty  homes.  They  were 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  Denise's  when  she 
spied  a  man  hurrying  toward  them,  gesticu- 
lating, and  evidently  holding  an  animated  con- 
versation with  himself.  Denise  could  not  help 
laughing  at  the  figure  he  cut,  for  wrath,  strong 

3i 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

and  potent,  was  written  in  every  gesture.  Just 
at  that  moment  the  child  saw  him  also,  and, 
jumping  up  in  the  carriage,  cried  at  the  top  of 
her  lungs:  "  Oh,  Michael !  Michael!  Here  I 
is  !  Here  I  is  !"  By  this  time  they  were  nearly 
up  to  him,  and,  stopping  short  in  the  road,  the 
man  froze  to  his  last  gesture  and  stared  at  them 
open-mouthed.  Then,  shaking  his  fist  at  the 
youngster,  he  came  a  step  nearer,  saying  : 

"  An'  is  it  yersilf  I  see  a-sittin'  up  there  in 
yer  illigince,  an'  me  runnin'  me  legs  arf  me  ter 
search  the  town  fer  ye,  ye  schmall  bit  av  a  divil, 
that  has  run  away  twinty  times  within  the  past 
tin  days  !  Faith  I've  a  mind  ter  shake  the  head 
arf  ye  fer  the  thrubble  ye've  put  upon  me  ! 
An*  yer  mither  a-screechin'  an'  a-screamin'  that 
ye're  drownded  entirely  in  the  river  beyant,  an' 
fer  gettin'  out  half  the  town  ter  search  it  fer  ye  ! 
Arrah,  now  !  Come  out  av  that,  an'  let  me — 
Ah !  what  shall  I  do  wid  ye  at  all,  I  dunno !" 
and,  reaching  over  the  wheel,  the  irate  Irishman 
lifted  the  child  out  with  not  the  gentlest  hand, 

32 


"MABIE   LILLY   TAINTIT" 

she  protesting  and  screaming  that  she  wanted  to 
"  wide  home  with  the  nice  young  lady  dat  fised 
her  out  of  the  brook." 

"  An'  will  ye  look  at  the  young  lady,  ye 
young  limb  o'  Satan  !  See  the  sthate  ye've  been 
after  puttin'  hersilf  an'  her  kerrege  in  !  Ah  ! 
Miss  Denise,  an'  it's  a  shame,  so  it  is,  the 
dhirt  that's  from  hid  ter  ind  av  yer  little 
wagon." 

"  Never  mind  the  mud,  Michael.  I  don't  care 
about  that,  for  John  will  soon  brush  it  all  out. 
But  who  on  earth  is  that  child  ?  I  thought  I 
knew  everybody  in  Springdale,  but  I  have 
never  seen  her  before.  I  thought  I  should 
never  get  her  home,  because  I  could  not  get  her 
to  say  a  single  thing  when  I  asked  her  name, 
but  that  maybe  it  was  Lilly,  and  then  she 
always  added,  oh,  taint  it,  taint  it,  till  I  knew 
less  than  before  she  began  to  tell  it." 

Over  Michael's  broad  face  a  smile  began  to 
spread  itself,  till  it  well-nigh  reached  from  ear 
to  ear,  and  then,  becoming  aware  of  his  rude- 

3 — Denise.  33 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

ness,  lie  put  his  hand  over  his  mouth  to  sup- 
press the  guffaw  that  would  come. 

"Oh!  Oho!  Oho!  "cried  Michael,  spas- 
modically, his  face  puckered  up  as  though  he 
were  going  to  sneeze.  "  Is  that  what  she  towld 
3re  ?  Will  I  iver  hear  the  bate  o'  that !  Faith, 
tis  no  wonder  ye  couldn't  make  head  or  tail  av 
it.  Shure,  she  is  master's  sister's  choild  what  is 
a-visitin'  him  fer  the  last  tin  days,  an'  runuin' 
arf  iviry  blessed  one  av  those  tin,  wid  me 
chasin'  after  her  till  me  legs  is  worn  out.  'Tis 
Taintit  her  name  is,  Mabel  Lilly  Taintit.  Her 
mother  is  Mr.  Wilson's  sister." 

"  Well,  it  is  no  wonder  I  didn't  understand," 
cried  Denise,  as  she  joined  in  the  laugh,  and 
then  turned  Ned's  head  toward  home,  as 
Michael  lifted  up  his  charge  and  turned  toward 
theirs,  asserting  as  he  departed  that  "  afther  this 
it's  tied  up  ye'll  be  fer  sertain." 


34 


CHAPTER  III 

AN   OLD    FRIEND    AND    A    NEW    ONE 

TT  was  the  twentieth  of  April !  Tan's  birth- 
day !  At  least,  Denise  considered  it  his 
birthday,  for  upon  that  date,  when  she  was 
a  wee  lassie  of  four,  Tan  had  been  given  to  her, 
although  he  certainly  had  not  come  into  the 
world  upon  the  same  day,  for  Tan  was  "  no  kid  " 
when  she  got  him.  That  he  was  more  than 
seven  and  one-half  years  she  knew,  and  a  friend 
of  her  father's  who  was  well  up  in  animal  lore, 
said  that  Tan  was  not  far  from  fourteen  years 
of  age,  to  judge  from  the  rings  upon  his  horns, 
which  were  almost  as  distinct  as  those  seen  upon 
the  Rocky  Mountain  sheep  which  Tan  resem- 
bled both  in  size  and  color.  So  Tan  was  grow- 
ing old  for  a  goat,  and  during  the  past  winter 

35 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

had  suffered  somewhat  from  rheumatism.  The 
Veterinary  who  came  to  see  him  did  all  that  he 
could  to  afford  him  relief,  but  said  that  Tau 
would  probably  not  live  through  another  winter. 
Denise  had  been  greatly  troubled  at  this,  but, 
like  all  "  mothers,"  only  loved  old  Tan  more 
dearly  in  his  affliction,  and  cared  for  him  more 
tenderly.  But  as  spring  drew  near  Tan  im- 
proved steadily,  and  when  the  warm  days  came 
and  he  could  go  out  in  his  field  to  crop  the 
fresh,  sweet  grass,  it  seemed  just  the  tonic  he 
required,  and  he  grew  quite  gay  and  frisky. 
He  still  followed  Denise  whenever  he  could  do 
so,  but  in  some  of  their  long  rambles,  or  after 
a  particularly  hard  climb,  often  grew  tired  and 
stopped  stock-still  in  the  road  to  pant. 

Ned,  Sailor,  and  Beauty  Buttons  were  not 
able  to  understand,  although  Sailor,  himself, 
was  not  very  young. 

Directly  lessons  were  ended  and  luncheon 
eaten,  Denise  flew  out  to  the  "Bird's  Nest," 
for  the  pretty  little  playhouse  and   stable  for 

36 


OLD   FRIEND   AND    NEW 

her  pets  combined  was  still  as  dear  to  her  as 
upon  the  day  she  had  received  the  key  to  it 
from  papa's  hand,  and  most  of  her  time  was 
spent  in  it.  Running  into  the  part  which  held 
the  carriages  for  Ned  and  Tan,  she  took  down 
Tan's  harness,  which  had  not  been  put  on  him 
for  many  a  long  day,  wheeled  out  the  little 
carriage,  and  then  went  to  the  door  to  whistle 
for  Tan.  Ned  Toodles  stood  in  his  day-stall, 
which  permitted  him  to  see  through  the  bars 
all  that  was  taking  place,  and  looked  upon  the 
unusual  preparations  with  a  sort  of  "  Well,  I 
wonder  what  you  are  up  to  now  ?"  look.  He 
stood  perfectly  still  except  for  an  occasional 
whisk  of  his  tail,  very  much  as  a  person 
might,  without  really  being  aware  of  it,  hastily 
brush  away  a  stray  lock  of  hair  which  tickled 
him. 

Out  upon  the  grass  in  front  of  the  "  Bird's 
Nest,"  Denise  rolled  the  little  old-fashioned  car- 
riage, and  then  turned  to  greet  Tan,  who,  at  the 
first  sight  of  these  familiar  objects,  felt  his  poor 

37 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

old  bones  filled  with  new  life,  and  Lis  loving  old 
heart  beat  for  joy,  for  these  meant  that  he  was 
again  to  draw  the  little  carriage  and,  as  he  sup- 
posed, his  beloved  little  mistress.  With  a  pro- 
longed baa-aa-a-a — a,  he  came  trotting  toward 
her  as  fast  as  the  stiff  legs  permitted,  and 
rubbed  his  head  against  her  sleeve  by  way  of 
telling  her  how  pleased  he  was. 

"Now,  Tanny-boy,"  said  Denise,  "this  is 
your  birthday.  At  least,  /  call  it  your  birth- 
day, because  you  came  to  live  with  me  on  the 
twentieth  of  April  just  seven  years  ago. 
Haven't  we  had  good  times  all  these  years? 
You  haven't  been  harnessed  for  ever  so  long, 
and  I  don't  know  whether  you  ought  to  be  now, 
to  tell  the  truth,  for  you  don't  seem  very  strong, 
but  I  am  not  going  to  take  you  out  of  the 
grounds,  and  this  is  to  make  you  feel  that  you 
aren't  so  very  old  after  all,"  and  Denise  stroked 
the  faithful  old  pet,  who  responded  in  every  way 
he  knew  how;  licking  her  hands,  rubbing  against 
her,  and  making  a  soft  little  snuffling  sound. 

3* 


OLD   FRIEND   AND    NEW 

It  was  only  a  moment's  work  to  her  practiced 
hands  to  adjust  the  harness,  and  Tan  was  a 
proud  goat  as  he  waited  for  her  to  get  into  the 
carriage.  But  she  had  no  intention  of  doing  so. 
Such  a  load  as  her  plump  little  self  was  not  to 
be  thought  of,  so,  bidding  him  stand  perfectly 
still,  she  ran  back  into  the  playhouse  and  a 
moment  later  reappeared  with  a  little  pink 
flannelette  blanket,  bound  all  around  the  edges 
with  black  braid,  and  a  piece  of  broad  pink 
ribbon. 

"  Here,  Beauty  Buttons,"  she  called  to  the 
tiny  black-and-tan  terrier  which  was  enjoy- 
ing a  sun-bath  in  the  playhouse  dining-room, 
"  come  and  ride  in  Tan's  wagon,  for  I'm  too 
heavy,"  and  down  trotted  the  small  dog,  to  be 
dressed  in  the  blanket  she  had  made  for  this 
festive  occasion  and  adorned  with  the  bow  to 
match.  He  knew  well  enough  what  was  ex- 
pected, and  hopped  into  the  carriage.  Denise 
put  the  reins  over  his  neck  and  there  he  sat, 
a  brave  little  groom,  while  Denise  went  up  to 

39 


D  E  X  I  S  E    AND    NED    TOODLES 

Tail's  head  and  took  hold  of  the  bridle.  Poor 
old  Tan!  All  aches  and  pains  were  forgotten,  and 
he  stepped  off  in  his  bravest  style. 

"  Now  we  will  go  over  there  under  the  apple- 
trees,  and  I'll  dress  you  all  up,"  said  Denise, 
and  off  they  went,  and  presently  were  standing 
beneath  the  blossom-laden  trees,  so  filled  with 
their  beautiful  bloom  that  they  looked  exactly 
like  huge  bouquets.  The  boughs  hung  low,  and 
before  long  Tan  had  nearly  disappeared  under 
his  decorations,  for  sprigs  of  apple-blossoms  were 
stuck  in  every  part  of  the  harness  that  they 
could  be  stuck  in,  the  carriage  and  Beauty  also 
coming  in  for  their  share.  When  all  was 
finished  Denise  led  Tan  to  the  rear  porch  and 
gave  a  "bob-white"  call.  It  was  almost  in- 
stantly answered  by  a  bob-white  from  within, 
and  her  mother's  face  appeared  at  an  upper 
window. 

"  What  is  this,  Sweetheart  ?  A  flower  fete  ?" 
asked  Mrs.  Lombard,  smiling  at  the  posy  bank 
under  her  window. 

AO 


OLD    FRIEND    AND    NEW 

"  Isn't  it  pretty,"  cried  Denise,  "  and  did  you 
ever  see  such  lovely  blossoms.  Tan  seems  so 
much  better,  and  I  guess  lie  will  be  all  right 
now  that  warm  weather  has  come  again,  don't 
you?" 

"  I  would  not  wonder  a  bit,"  was  the  comfort- 
ing reply,  for  somehow  this  mother  rarely  made 
any  other  sort,  and  had  a  knack  of  putting  the 
simplest  things  in  a  new  and  happy  light. 

"Have  you  got  a  letter?"  asked  Denise, 
noticing  that  her  mother  held  an  envelope  in 
her  hand. 

"  Yes,  dear ;  it  is  a  letter  from  Mrs.  Murray, 
saying  that  they  will  be  back  in  their  old  home 
this  week,  and  that  we  may  expect  to  see  the 
house  open  any  day.  I  am  so  pleased  to  hear 
such  good  news,  for  it  has  seemed  very  lonely 
to  have  our  nearest  neighbor's  house  shut  up  all 
these  years.  I  wonder  if  you  can  remember 
the  children  at  all  ?  The  eldest  was  only  six 
months  your  senior,  and  a  dear  little  lad." 

"  I  am  afraid  I  can't,"  said  Denise,  wagging 
41 


DEN1SE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

her  bead  solemnly,  as  though  she  were  found 
wanting  in  something. 

"  Well,  keep  your  weather  eye  open,"  said 
Mrs.  Lombard,  laughing,  "and  when  you  see 
some  one  whom  you  don't  know,  just  say  to 
yourself,  '  that  is  an  old  friend/  " 

"  I  will,"  answered  Denise,  joining  in  the 
laugh,  and  turning  to  lead  Tan  and  her  passen- 
ger back  under  the  trees.  The  apple-trees  grew 
near  to  the  fence  which  divided  Mr.  Lombard's 
property  from  his  neighbor's,  and  that  particular 
corner  of  the  grounds  was  always  a  favorite  one 
of  Denise's.  Up  in  one  tree  was  her  "  cubby," 
beneath  two  others  swung  her  hammock,  and 
upon  the  velvety  grass  beneath  them  she  spent 
many  a  happy  hour  reading,  while  Ned 
Toodles,  Tan,  Sailor,  Beauty  Buttons,  and  the 
kittens  stood,  sat,  or  stretched  themselves  about 
her.  A  hedge  of  currant-bushes  grew  along  the 
fence,  concealing  all  that  took  place  within  or 
beyond. 

Denise  had  led  Tan  to  a  particularly  inviting 
42 


OLD   FRIEND   AND    NEW 

spot  and  took  him  from  the  shafts,  although 
she  did  not  remove  the  harness  and  its  deco- 
rations. Beauty  had  hopped  out  of  the  car- 
riage, and  was  now  sprawled  out  like  a  big  frog. 
Seating  herself  in  one  of  the  rustic  benches 
beneath  the  trees,  she  drew  Tan  toward  her  and 
began  to  scratch  the  little  spot  between  his 
horns ;  a  spot  which  seemed  to  be  in  a  perpetual 
state  of  itching,  as  his  head  would  fall  lower 
and  lower  the  longer  she  scratched  there.  As 
she  rubbed  she  talked  to  Tan,  rambling  on  in 
the  odd  way  she  had  of  sharing  all  her  thoughts 
with  her  pets,  safe  confidants,  who  never  be- 
trayed her  secrets,  and  who  loved  the  voice  for 
the  voice's  sake.  Presently  a  loud,  impatient 
whinney  caused  her  to  look  over  toward  the 
playhouse. 

"  Do  you  hear  that  ?"  she  demanded.  "  I 
do  believe  that  Ned  is  jealous  for  the  first  time 
in  his  life,"  and  she  answered  the  whinney  by 
giving  a  peculiar  piping  whistle. 

A  stamping  and  a  clatter  was  the  result,  and 
43 


DENTSE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

presently  John's  voice  was  heard  shouting : 
"  Hi !  you  young  scamp  !  Don't  you  dare  thry 
that  thrick  on  me  agin.  It's  takin'  out  yer  own 
bar  fastenings  ye'll  be,  is  it  ?  Don't  ye  dare ! 
There,"  as  the  sound  of  dropping  bars  told  that 
Ned  was  free,  "  gt-t-t  out  beyant  to  Miss  De- 
nise,  and  cut  no  more  capers,"  and  with  a  rattle 
and  clatter  out  rushed  Ned  to  come  tearing  over 
the  grass  toward  Denise.  His  abrupt  exit  so 
startled  the  kittens,  who  were  basking  in  the 
sunshine  just  outside  the  door,  that  they 
bounced  up  like  two  rubber  balls  and  tore 
along  ahead  of  him  with  both  tails  stuck 
straight  up  in  the  air  like  bottle-brushes,  and 
did  not  stop  their  flight  until  they  were  safe  in 
the  branches  above  Denise's  head. 

As  though  to  rebuke  such  unseemly  haste, 
Sailor  rose  majestically  from  his  favorite  corner 
of  the  piazza,  and,  descending  the  steps,  came 
slowly  across  the  lawn,  waving  his  plumy  tail 
like  a  flag  of  truce  and  looking  with  dignified 
contempt  upon   such  mad  antics   as   Ned  was 

44 


OLD    FRIEND    AND    NEW 

just  then  giving  way  to,  for  having  been  con- 
fined in  his  stall  all  the  morning  while  Denise 
was  occupied  with  her  lessons,  and  then  having 
had  insult  added  to  injury  by  receiving  from 
her  only  a  few  words  when  she  ran  out  to  get 
Tan,  his  outraged  spirit  had  to  find  some  sort 
of  vent,  and  this  up-end,  down-end,  tip-end, 
top-end  sort  of  performance  with  which  he  was 
now  favoring  his  audience  was  evidently  the 
proper  sort  of  demonstration  under  the  circum- 
stances, and  for  a  little  time  it  would  have  been 
hard  to  tell  which  end  of  him  rested  upon 
terra  Jlrma.  As  a  fitting  ending  to  his  perform- 
ance, he  rushed  around  and  around  two  or  three 
times,  evidently  regarding  Denise's  laughter 
which  pealed  out  as  wild  applause,  and  then, 
coming  toward  her  with  a  rush,  bumped  against 
old  Tan  and  nearly  upset  him,  as  he  pushed 
him  aside  to  put  his  saucy  nose  where  Tan's 
had  been. 

It  was  all  done  so  quickly  that  Denise  hardly 
realized  what  had  happened  till  she  was  startled 

45 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

by  a  hearty,  boyish  laugh  from  the  other  side 
of  the  hedge,  and,  turning  quickly,  saw  a 
lad  of  about  twelve  looking  over  it  and  laugh- 
ing as  hard  as  he  could.  Giving  Ned  a  shake 
by  his  little  silky  ears,  Denise  pushed  him  from 
her  and  hopped  up  from  the  bench,  saying : 
"  Isn't  he  the  craziest  thing  you  ever  saw  ?  I 
guess  you  are  the  person  I  am  to  see  and  not 
know  a  bit,  but  to  call  an  old  friend,"  and  with 
this  bewildering  announcement  she  went  over 
to  the  fence  to  speak  to  the  still  amused  boy. 

Hastily  reaching  in  the  pocket  of  his  im- 
maculate little  overcoat,  the  boy  drew  from  it  a 
small  card-case,  and,  taking  from  it  a  card, 
handed  it  to  Denise  with  a  truly  Chester- 
fieldian  air  as  he  raised  his  cap  and  waited 
for  her  to  read  the  name. 

Although  a  carefully- bred  child,  Denise  had 
not  had  much  experience  in  conventionalities, 
and  did  not  go  about  with  a  card-case  in  her 
pocket.  So  it  never  occurred  to  her  to  throw 
any  formality  into   her   reply,  and   her  next 

46 


OLD    FRIEND    AND    NEW 

words  banished  forever  any  misgivings  the  boy 
was  entertaining  of  the  outcome  of  this  act. 
"Will  she  be  stiff  and  prim?"  had  been  his 
inward  doubt  while  coming  back  to  the  home 
so  long  untenanted  by  his  parents,  and  learn- 
ing that  their  next-door  neighbor  had  an  only 
daughter  blessed  with  more  good  things  than 
usually  falls  to  the  lot  of  one  child.  He  had 
been  at  school  abroad,  and  "  manners  polite " 
had  been  as  breakfast,  dinner,  and  supper  to 
him  for  three  long  years,  till  very  little  of  the 
genuine  boy  appeared  upon  the  surface,  however 
much  it  seethed  and  bubbled  beneath.  True  to 
his  training,  the  card  had  been  produced  when 
occasion  called  for  it,  but  the  sigh  of  relief  which 
came  at  Denise's  next  words  told  that  a  mighty 
burden  had  been  lifted  from  his  boyish  soul  : 

"  Oh,  how  perfectly  splendid  !  You  are  Hart 
Murray,  mamma's  old  friend's  son.  Come 
straight  over  the  fence  and  let  me  show  you 
all  my  pets,  and  we'll  talk,  talk,  talk,  till  we 
can't  think  of  another  word  to  say !" 

47 


CHAPTEK  IV 

HAKT 

"^W  """O  second  invitation  was  needed,  and  with 

\       one  of  the  marvelous  "  neck-or-nothing  " 

bounds    which     only    boys   can    make, 

Hart  rested  one  hand  upon  the  fence  and  the 

next  instant  stood  beside  the  surprised  girl. 

"How  under  the  sun  did  you  do  it!"  she 
exclaimed,  for  never  having  had  any  boy  com- 
panions excepting  her  cousins  from  the  city, 
Denise  hardly  knew  what  to  expect  from  boys. 
"  That  didn't  amount  to  much,"  answered  the 
boy,  modestly,  as  he  followed  Denise  over  the 
lawn,  and  a  moment  later  was  surrounded  by 
her  inquisitive  family.  Ned  promptly  struck 
an  attitude,  and  sniffed  from  afar  in  long,  audi- 
ble breaths.     Tan  presented  arms,  so  to  speak, 

48 


HART 

by  trying  to  rear  upon  his  hind  legs  as  of  old, 
and  make  believe  butt  the  newcomer.  Sailor 
walked  right  up  to  him  and  put  his  paw  into 
his  hand,  and  Beauty,  not  to  be  outdone  in 
politeness,  instantly  began  to  do  his  tricks  for 
their  guest's  benefit.  He  lay  down  at  his  feet, 
rolled  over  first  one  way  and  then  the  other  so 
quickly  that  one  wondered  if  he  had  some 
sort  of  a  patent  spring  inside  him ;  then  sat 
upon  his  hind  legs  to  "  beg  "  and  "  sneeze " 
three  times  in  rapid  succession.  Overhead 
the  kittens  kept  up  a  sort  of  accompani- 
ment to  the  other's  performances  by  running 
rapidly  up  and  down  the  limbs  and  meowing 
incessantly. 

"  I  say  !  What  a  lot  of  them  !"  exclaimed 
the  boy,  "  and  aren't  they  dandies  ?" 

"  Yes,  I  think  that  they  are  a  pretty  nice 
family.  Tan  is  all  dressed  up  because  it  is  his 
birthday." 

"Not  really?  That's  a  joke,  for  it's  mine, 
too.     I'm  twelve  years  old  to-day,  and  that  is 

A—^Dsnise.  49 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

the  reason  I  came  out  here.     A  sort  of  birthday 
treat,  don't  you  see." 

"  How  funny  "  cried  Denise,  "  but  isn't  it 
splendid,  too !  Let's  leave  the  children  down 
here  to  enjoy  themselves  while  you  and  I  get  up 
into  the  tree  and  have  a  fine  talk.  See  the  seats 
up  there  ?     It's  a  fine  place  for  a  powwow." 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  the  children  ?"  asked 
Hart,  glancing  about  for  several  infants,  but 
failing  to  see  them. 

Denise  laughed.  "  Oh,  that  is  only  my  way 
of  speaking  of  the  pets.  There  are  such  a  lot  of 
them  that  they  need  as  much  care  as  children, 
so  I  call  them  so." 

Hart  glanced  up  into  the  blossom-laden  tree, 
and  without  another  word  began  to  scramble 
into  its  fragrant  depths,  Denise  following  as 
nimbly  as  a  squirrel.  Seating  themselves  upon 
bits  of  board  which  had  been  nailed  in  the 
branches,  they  at  once  availed  themselves  of 
that  blessed  privilege  of  childhood,  and  asked 
questions  by  the  dozen. 

5o 


HART 

"  When  did  you  come  out  ?"  was  Denise's  first 
question. 

"  Just  before  luncheon  with  Mrs.  Dean,  the 
housekeeper.  Father  and  mother  won't  he  out 
mtil  to-morrow.  But  I  couldn't  wait  any- 
longer.  I  wanted  to  see  the  place  so  much, 
and — "  Hart  paused  abruptly,  for  he  had  been 
about  to  add  "you,"  when  he  bethought  him- 
self of  his  manners. 

"  And  what  ?"  asked  Denise. 

"  Why,  you  see,  I  hadn't  seen  the  place  since 
I  was  just  a  little  kid  only  five  years  old,  and 
mother  said  that  she  had  always  lived  here  when 
she  was  a  girl,  and  that  your  mother  was  her 
school-friend.  And  then  she  told  me  about 
your  pets,  and — and — well,  she  said  that  she 
hoped  you  and  I  would  grow  to  be  good  friends, 
too,  don't  you  see,"  and  the  handsome  blue  eyes 
smiled  in  the  friendliest  way.  Hart  was  a 
handsome  boy,  tall  and  well  formed  for  a  boy 
of  twelve,  with  a  firm  mouth,  fine  teeth,  and  the 
most  winning  smile  imaginable.     Little  brownie 

5* 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

Denise  was  an  exact  opposite,  for  his  hair  was 
a  mass  of  golden  waves  and  hers  as  dark  as  a 
seal's. 

"Why,  of  course  we'll  be  friends.  We  are 
already,  and  it  is  just  too  splendid  for  anything 
to  think  that  you  live  so  near,  and  we  can  be 
together  all  the  time,"  for  it  never  occurred  to 
Denise  that  there  might  be  people  in  this  world 
ready  to  criticise  a  boy  and  girl  friendship,  and 
the  silly  nonsense  of  "  little  beaus  "  and  "  little 
sweethearts  "  had,  happily,  never  even  entered 
her  head.  It  was  just  good  comradeship  with 
all  her  boy  friends.  True,  she  had  never  had 
any  close  ones,  although  she  knew  nearly  all 
the  children  in  Springdale,  and  was  always 
glad  to  welcome  them  to  her  home.  But  the 
greater  part  of  her  life  was  passed  with  her 
pets,  and  they  filled  it  very  full,  indeed.  But 
here  was  a  friend  close  at  hand  with  whom  she 
might  talk,  drive,  or  cut  any  prank,  and  the 
experience  was  novel. 

As  they  sat  chattering,  a  musical  bob-white 
52 


HART 

whistle  sounded  almost  beneath  their  feet,  and 
Mrs.  Lombard's  face  peered  through  the  boughs. 

"  Who  ever  heard  of  a  quail  and  a  golden 
pheasant  up  a  tree  !"  she  said  merrily.  "  That 
boy  up  there  is  Hart  Murray,  I  know,  for  he 
has  stolen  his  mother's  eyes  and  golden  hair, 
and  come  out  here  to  masquerade.  Come 
straight  down  here  and  let  me  shake  hands  with 
you." 

It  would  have  been  hard  to  resist  the  cordis  1 
welcome  of  Mrs.  Lombard's  voice,  and  a  second 
later  Hart's  slender  hand  lay  in  hers,  and  she 
was  smiling  into  his  face  as  only  Mrs.  Lom- 
bard could  smile.  "  I  thought  I  heard  a 
wonderous  piping  in  the  old  apple-tree,"  she 
said,  "  and  came  out  to  learn  what  manner  of 
bird  had  taken  possession.  I  have  found  a  vara 
avis,  sure  enough,  and  shall  try  to  induce  it  to 
spend  a  good  part  of  its  time  in  my  grounds." 

"  I  don't  believe  it  will  need  much  coaxing," 
was  the  laughing  reply. 

"  Oh,  we  have  laid  all  sorts  of  splendid  plans 
S3 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

already,"  cried  Denise,  "and  were  just  going 
over  to  see  the  rabbits  when  you  piped  up. 
Come  with  us,  Moddie,"  and  slipping  her  arm 
about  her  mother's  waist,  Denise  led  the  way  to 
the  rabbits'  quarters  in  one  end  of  Tan's  field. 
Resting  her  hand  upon  the  shoulder  of  the  tall 
boy  walking  beside  her,  Mrs.  Lombard  asked  : 
"  And  what  are  the  plans  for  good  times?" 

"  Oh,  all  sorts  of  things.  Father  says  that  he 
will  give  me  a  pony  and  a  boat.  Denise  and  I 
can  have  jolly  rides,  and  I'll  take  her  rowing  if 
you'll  let  her  go  ;  will  you  ?"  he  asked  eagerly. 

"  Dear  me,  who  will  guarantee  her  safe  re- 
turn ?"  asked  Mrs.  Lombard. 

"  Oh,  I'll  take  first-rate  care  of  her,  if  you'll 
only  let  her  come ;  please  say  yes,"  and  he  placed 
his  hand  upon  her  shoulder. 

He  was  probably  unconscious  of  the  act,  but 
that  was  exactly  the  influence  Mrs.  Lombard 
always  exercised  over  young  people ;  they  were 
at  once  drawn  toward  her,  and  soon  lost  all 
sense  of  the  presence  of  a  "  grown-up." 

54 


HART 

They  had  now  reached  the  rabbit-house,  and 
were  surrounded  by  black,  white,  gray,  and 
brown  wiggling  noses — dozens  and  dozens  of 
of  them.  Hart  was  delighted,  and  when  Mrs. 
Lombard  asked,  "  Wouldn't  you  like  to  have  a 
pair  for  your  own  ?"  accepted  her  offer  with  a 
frank,  boyish,  "  You'd  better  believe  I  would." 
So  a  fine  pair,  one  black  and  one  white  one,  was 
selected,  and  within  the  hour  had  taken  up  their 
abode  in  the  hothouse  in  their  neighbor's 
grounds,  there  to  live  until  their  new  owner 
could  build  a  house  for  them. 

That  was  the  beginning  of  a  boy  and  girl 
friendship  which  lasted  many  years,  and  was 
not  broken  till  years  after  when  Hart,  grown  to 
splendid,  talented  manhood,  slipped  into  "the 
great  beyond,"  and  left  many  a  sad  heart 
behind. 

Ned  Toodles  had  always  displayed  a  very 
marked  aversion  for  any  one  wearing  trousers, 
and  it  was  funny  enough  to  watch  his  attitude  to- 
ward Hart,     At  first  he  submitted  to  his  caresses 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

with  the  air  of,  "  Well,  good  breeding  compels 
me  to  show  no  aversion,  but  remember,  you  are 
only  accepted  on  probation."  But  Hart  was  too 
manly  a  little  chap  to  torment  an  animal,  and 
before  long  Ned  grew  very  fond  of  him, 
although  Hart  had  never  yet  attempted  to  ride 
him. 

One  afternoon,  when  Denise  and  Hart  were 
playing  "  livery  stable,"  and,  as  usual,  having  a 
royal  good  time,  with  Ned  upon  constant  call, 
Sailor  harnessed  to  a  small  express  wagon,  and 
Beauty  Buttons  to  the  doll's  carriage,  for  "  pony 
orders  for  children,"  the  proprietor  of  the  stable 
received  an  order  for  a  saddle-horse  to  be  sent 
to  a  customer  as  quickly  as  possible. 

Obviously,  Ned  was  the  only  animal  in  that 
stable  who  was  saddle-broken.  Tan  was  stand- 
ing in  line,  lest  he  feel  neglected,  but  "  let's 
make  believe  that  he  is  just  a  boarding  horse, 
which  some  lady  keeps  in  the  stable,  and  that 
we  can't  use  him  for  anything." 

"  Yes,  and  sometimes  we  must  take  him  out 
56 


HART 

and  walk  him  around  for  exercise,"  answered 
Hart. 

Z-z-z — z-ing !  rang  an  imaginary  telephone- 
bell,  or,  at  least,  a  call-bell,  for  this  all  happened 
long  before  the  days  of  telephones. 

"  Thomas,  there  goes  the  order-bell,"  called 
the  proprietor,  Mr.  Andrews. 

"  Aye,  aye,  sir !"  answered  Thomas,  running 
to  the  little  window  to  receive  an  imaginary 
order  from  without.  "  It's  from  Mr.  Casey,  and 
he  wants  a  saddle-horse  sent  up  right  off." 

"Does  he  ask  for  a  side  or  man's  saddle," 
asked  the  proprietor,  filled  with  inward  misgiv- 
ings should  the  order  prove  to  be  a  demand  for 
the  latter. 

Thomas  turned  to  the  window  to  ask  the  in- 
visible messenger  which  was  wanted,  and  stated 
that  Mr.  Casey  wished  to  ride  himself.  Here 
was  a  coil,  but  that  proprietor  was  not  to  be 
baffled  by  the  fact  that  the  stable  boasted  no 
man's  saddle,  or  that  the  only  saddle  horse 
would  be  very  liable  to  make  things   pretty 

57 


DENISE    AND    NED    T  OODLES 

lively  for  the  first  masculine  creature  attempt- 
ing to  mount  him.  With  an  air  of  added  im- 
portance she  said : 

"  Very  good  !  Very  good !  I  shall  have  to 
get  the  new  saddle  from  the  harness-room/'  and 
went  to  the  pretty  little  closet  containing  all 
Ned's  belongings.  Taking  from  it  her  own 
beautiful  little  saddle  with  its  castor  seat  and 
immaculate  saddle-cloth,  she  hastily  rigged  up 
a  stirrup  upon  the  right  side,  unscrewed  the 
pummels,  and,  heigh,  presto !  there  was  your 
man's  saddle  fine  as  a  fiddle. 

Ned  was  then  taken  from  his  stall,  and  the 
saddle  adjusted.  So  far  so  good.  That  move 
was  not  an  unusual  one,  and  his  little  mistress 
had  superintended  the  operation.  No  doubt 
she  was  going  to  ride  him,  even  though  she  had 
rigged  up  that  queer  dangling  thing  upon  the 
right  side  of  the  saddle. 

"Thomas,  it  is  only  a  short  way  to  Mr. 
Casey's,  and  I  think  that  you'd  better  lead  King- 
Royal.     He  is  pretty  fresh,  and  it  will  be  safer." 

^8 


HART 

"Very  good,  sir,"  answered  the  obedient 
Thomas,  secretly  resolving  to  get  upon  that  noble 
animal's  back  once  he  was  out  of  sight  of  the 
stable.  Just  then  another  order  was  delivered  : 
this  time  for  a  pony-phaeton.  "As  this  order 
must  be  filled  without  delay,  I  shall  take  Tiny 
Tim  over  to  Mrs.  Murray's  myself,  for  perhaps 
she  will  not  want  the  young  lady  to  drive  her- 
self," said  Mr.  Andrews.  "  When  you  get  back 
you'd  better  take  Gold  Auster  out  for  a  little- 
exercise  ;  Miss  Ward  does  not  like  him  to  get 
stiffened  up." 

King  Royal  was  led  out  of  the  stable  by  the 
submissive  Thomas,  and  Mr.  Andrews,  making 
believe  seat  himself  in  the  doll's  carriage,  said 
"  Get  up  "  to  Tiny  Tim.  King  Royal  looked 
back  as  Thomas  led  him  away,  as  though  trying 
to  reason  out  in  his  horse  mind  why  the  one  he 
loved  best  did  not  come,  too.  But  that  person 
was  filled  with  other  concerns,  and  Thomas  was 
saying  "Come  on,  now,  Mr.  Casey  will  be 
wantin'  you"    in   very  excellent   imitation    of 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

John's  voice.  A  moment  later,  Tiny  Tim  had 
passed  into  Mr.  Murray's  grounds,  and  King 
Royal  was  marching  off  down  the  road  which 
led  to  Mr.  Casey's  beautiful  home  on  the  river 
bank. 

Arrived  at  the  entrance  gate,  Thomas  held  a 
conversation  with  Mr.  Casey,  and  a  wonderful 
transformation  instantly  took  place,  for  Thomas 
vanished,  and  "  Mr.  Casey  "  prepared  to  mount 
the  noble  animal  sent  to  him  by  Mr.  Andrews. 
What  happened  next  will  need  a  chapter  all  to 
itaelf. 


fiu 


CHAPTER  V 

KING    KOYAL    DISTINGUISHES    HIMSELF 

ALTHOUGH  Hart  had  been  with  Denise 
and  her  pets  daily  for  the  past  three 
weeks,  up  to  this  time  he  had  never 
undertaken  to  mount  Ned.  He  had  ridden 
in  the  carriage  by  the  hour,  and  often  driven 
him,  but  for  some  reason  had  never  thought  of 
getting  upon  his  back.  Denise  had  never  re- 
vealed Ned's  peculiarities  regarding  boys,  ex- 
cepting to  say  that  he  did  not  like  some  boys, 
feeling,  perhaps,  that  she  might  arouse  distrust 
of  her  pet  in  her  friend.  But  here  was  a  crisis, 
and  well  enough  she  knew  that  there  would  be, 
as  she  mentally  termed  it,  "  a  high  old  time  " 
when  Hart  tried  to  get  on  Ned's  back,  as  she 
felt  sure  he  meant  to  do  when  "  Mr.  Casey  " 

61 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

sent  in  the  order  for  a  saddle-horse.  However, 
Ned  was  not  vicious,  and  the  worst  outcome  of 
the  venture  would  be  a  spill,  which  neither 
Hart  nor  she  minded  in  the  least.  Now  Ned's 
usual  procedure,  when  submitted  to  the  indignity 
of  a  boyish  burden,  was  to  stand  perfectly  still 
until  he  had  his  victim  safe  upon  his  bach, 
looking,  meanwhile,  the  very  picture  of  inno- 
cence and  meekness,  a  sort  of  "  what  a  good 
boy  am  I "  expression.  So  when  Hart  gath- 
ered up  the  reins  in  the  most  scientific  manner, 
for  he  had  ridden  all  his  life,  and  was  a  skillful 
little  horseman,  Ned  wagged  one  ear  wisely  and 
"  prepared  for  action." 

Hart  placed  his  foot  in  the  stirrups,  adjusting 
the  makeshift  one  to  his  satisfaction.  "  Now, 
old  fellow,  let's  show  our  paces!"  he  said,  and 
Ned  took  him  at  his  word.  First  a  sedate  walk, 
smooth  and  easy  as  a  rocking-chair,  but  gradu- 
ally growing  more  rapid.  Charming !  The 
walk  is  changed  into  a  trot.  Quite  the  Park 
gait.     Now  a  gentle  lope.     Could  anything  be 

62 


KING  ROYAL  DISTINGUISHES  HIMSELF 

more  perfect  than  that  gait  ?  His  rider  becomes 
more  than  ever  assured  that  the  animal  he  is 
bestriding  is  the  most  perfectly  broken  one  he 
has  ever  ridden.  All  this  time  one  wise  eye  is 
cocked  knowingly  backward  to  watch  the  boy 
upon  his  back,  and  note  with  great  satisfaction 
that  his  confidence  in  his  mount  is  momentarily 
increasing.  Then  !  Off  like  a  mad  thing,  tail 
up  in  the  air,  head  down,  and  Tarn  o'  Shanter's 
imps  in  hot  pursuit  till  about  three  blocks  are 
told  off.  HALT  !  Down  goes  the  head,  up  go 
the  hind  legs,  and  it  is  a  skilled  rider,  indeed, 
who  sticks  on  at  the  point  of  the  game. 

But  this  time  Master  Ned  had  reckoned  with- 
out his  host,  for  his  host  "  didn't  spill  worth  a 
cent,"  as  that  host  himself  asserted.  Then 
came  a  tussle,  and  up  and  down  the  road  tore 
that  crazy  little  beast,  bent  upon  dislodging  Hart 
or  dying  in  the  attempt.  Meanwhile  "  Mr.  An- 
drews "  had  returned  from  giving  the  "  Misses 
Murray  "  their  outing,  and  was  standing  at  the 
gate  screaming  with  laughter.     Hart's  hat  had 

63 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

long  since  sailed  into  a  neighboring  field,  and 
most  of  his  attire  looked  as  though  he  had 
dressed  himself  in  the  dark.  But  he  was  still 
on  Ned's  back,  and,  so  far  as  that  bad  little 
scamp's  efforts  were  concerned,  liable  to  stay 
there  for  some  time. 

"  Ned  Toodles,  how  can  you  be  so  bad  !'  cried 
Denise,  forgetful  for  the  time  being,  that  it  was 
the  royal  antics  of  a  royal  king  she  was  witness- 
ing. Ned  stoj^ped.  short  at  that  sound,  and  took 
time  to  consider  the  situation.  Fatal  moment ! 
Fatal,  at  least,  for  Hart,  for  into  that  wise  little 
horse  noddle  flashed  an  idea,  and  without  a  sec- 
ond's hesitation  was  acted  upon.  With  a  wild, 
triumphant  neigh,  he  wheeled  short  around, 
made  a  rush  for  an  open  gate  at  the  end  of  the 
grounds,  pelted  through  it  like  a  monstrous  can- 
non-ball, and  a  second  later  was  in  Buttercup's 
cow-yard.  Now  Buttercup  was  the  dearest  cow 
in  the  world,  and  her  eyes  were  beautiful  to  be- 
hold, and  her  coat  like  satin.  But  her  barn- 
yard— well,  they  are  very  nice  places  for — coivs. 

64 


KING  ROYAL  DISTINGUISHES  HIMSELF 

Into  this  yard  came  Ned  like  a  tornado,  scaring 
poor  Buttercup  out  of  her  wits,  for,  although 
upon  the  friendliest  of  terms,  she  had  never  be- 
fore received  a  visit  from  him. 

"  So  you  won't  get  off  my  back  !"  said  Ned's 
face  and  attitude,  as  plainly  as  words  could  have 
said  it.  "  We'll  see  !"  and  down  he  went  flat 
upon  his  side.  What  happened  next  would 
better  be  left  untold.  Alas,  for  the  pretty  castor 
saddle !  When  Denise  arrived  upon  the  scene 
Ned  was  still  resting  from  his  labors,  Hart  stood 
staring  at  the  peacefully  reposing  animal  with  a 
decidedly  crestfallen  air,  and  John  had  arrived 
upon  the  scene  to  "  drop  a  casual  word  "  re- 
garding affairs  in  general. 

Ned  had  never  been  whipped,  but  he  came 
pretty  near  being  that  time,  and  did  not  forget 
his  sound  scolding,  for  after  that  an  armistice 
was  declared,  and  Hart  was  permitted  to  ride  all 
he  wished,  Ned  evidently  feeling  that  he  had 
earned  a  right  to  do  so. 

Not  long  after  this  Hart's  pony  was  given  to 

8— Denise.  6  Z 


DENISE   AND    NED    T  OODLES 

him,  and,  although  somewhat  larger  than  Ned 
Toodles,  as  warm  a  friendship  was  formed  by 
the  two  little  horses  as  existed  between  their 
master  and  mistress.  "  Pinto,"  as  Hart's  pony- 
was  named  on  account  of  his  peculiar  marking, 
was  a  dear  little  beastie,  although  he  never  at- 
tained to  the  degree  of  intelligence  that  Ned  dis- 
played as  the  years  went  on.  But  that,  no  doubt, 
wras  due  to  the  fact  that  he  had  not  been  so 
closely  associated  with  a  human  being  as  Ned 
had  been  ever  since  he  became  Denise's  and  as 
Mr.  Lombard  suspected  he  had  been  during  much 
of  his  former  life,  although  nothing  for  a  long- 
time was  known  of  it,  and  it  wras  not  until  this 
eventful  summer  that  they  learned  his  history. 

Hart  and  Denise,  mounted  upon  Ned  and 
Pinto,  ranged  the  country  far  and  wide,  and  it 
was  a  far  corner  indeed  that  they  did  not 
find  their  way  into  sooner  or  later.  Those 
spring  months,  with  all  their  bud  and  bloom, 
were  halcyon  days  for  the  children,  for  Hart 
literally  lived   at   Mrs.   Lombard's    house    till 

66 


KING  ROYAL  DISTINGUISHES   HIMSELF 

Mrs.  Murray  said  to  her  :  "  Emilie  Lombard, 
when  do  you  intend  to  send  in  my  son's  board- 
bill  ?  This  is  simply  dreadful.  He  is  hardly 
out  of  bed  in  the  morning  before  he  is  making 
some  excuse  to  come  over  here." 

"  Let  him  come  all  he  wants  to.  It  is  good 
for  Denise  to  have  such  a  sturdy  playmate,  for 
she  has  never  had  any  real  crony  but  Pokey, 
and  she  is  such  a  gentle  little  soul  that  I'm 
afraid  Denise  will  think  more  of  her  own  way 
than  some  one  else's." 

"  Well,  you  have  no  idea  what  it  means  to  me 
to  have  that  boy  so  happily  associated,"  ex- 
claimed Mrs.  Murray.  "  He  has  been  abroad  at 
school  so  long  that  I  hardly  know  him  myself, 
and  isn't  in  the  least  like  our  true,  every-day 
American  boys.  And  Denise  is  just  the  jolly 
little  chum  for  him  to  have." 

"  It  all  seems  too  delightful  to  be  true,"  said 
Mrs.  Lombard,  "  and  to  have  you  for  my  neigh- 
bor after  all  these  years  of  separation  makes  me 
feel  like  a  young  girl  again." 

67 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

"  You  have  never  been  anything  else,"  re-, 
plied  Mrs.  Murray,  "  for  you  have  stayed  young 
with  Denise,  and  that  is  the  secret  of  your  beau- 
tiful attitude  toward  each  other." 

"  Perhaps  so,"  replied  Mrs.  Lombard,  a 
happy  smile  creeping  about  her  lips  as  thoughts 
of  the  sunny  little  daughter  and  their  mutual 
love  put  into  her  eyes  the  lovely  "  mother  " 
light  that  never  comes  till  that  precious  name 
becomes  ours. 

"  Well,  you  must  not  let  him  remain  to 
dinner  every  night,  at  all  events,"  added  Mrs. 
Murray.  "  Send  him  home  in  time  to  dine  with 
his  father,  or  I  do  not  know  what  will  happen." 

"  Very  well,  home  he  goes  at  the  stroke  of 
five,  to  remove  all  traces  of  the  afternoon's  siege 
before  Mr.  Murray's  arrival  at  six." 

"  Yes,  do  ;  it  will  be  a  real  kindness,  for  my 
time  is  so  occupied  with  the  other  children  that 
I  fear  I  have  let  Hart  paddle  his  own  canoe  more 
than  I  should  have  done.  But  they  are  all  so 
small  that  they  need  me  more.     Good-bye,  and 

68 


KING  ROYAL  DISTINGUISHES  HIMSELF 

run  in  when  you  can.  I  am  always  disengaged 
between  five  and  six." 

"  And  I  am  always  engaged  at  that  hour," 
answered  Mrs.  Lombard  with  an  odd  smile, 
which  made  Mrs.  Murray  ask  :  "  Afternoon 
tea,  and  a  quiet  little  gossip  with  your  best 
friends  ?" 

"  The  gossip  with  my  best  friend,  but  not  the 
tea,"  answered  Mrs.  Lombard.  "  That  is 
Denise's  hour  with  me,  and  I  try  never  to  let 
anything  interfere  with  it." 

"  What  ?  Do  you  give  up  all  that  time  to  the 
child  never  mind  what  is  going  on  ?  I  should 
think  it  would  be  impossible  at  times  I" 

"  There,  of  course,  arise  circumstances  which 
make  it  impossible  once  in  a  while,  but  they  are 
rare,  and  she  is  always  ready  to  accept  my  ex- 
planations and  apology,"  answered  Mrs.  Lom- 
bard, with  the  gentlest  expression. 

"  Explanations  and  apologies  to  one's  child  !" 
cried  Mrs.  Murray  in  dismay.  "  You  don't 
mean  to  say  that  you  carry  things  to  that  ex- 

69 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

tent  with  her !  I  should  think  that  she  would 
be  so  conceited  that  you  would  never  in  the 
world  be  able  to  do  a  thing  with  her." 

A  slight  flush  overspread  Mrs.  Lombard's 
sweet  face  as  she  answered,  "  Could  I  hope  to 
have  her  wholly  courteous  to  me  or  to  others  if 
she  found  me  wanting  in  courtesy  to  her  ?" 


7* 


CHAPTER  VI 

THE   SUNSET    HOUR 

THE  library  windows  stood  open,  and  the 
soft  little  June  winds  played  "peep  "  with 
the  lace  curtains,  swaying  them  in  and  out, 
and  letting  the  rose-laden  air  slip  into  the 
room.  Outside  the  setting  sun  cast  long  slant- 
ing rays  upon  the  lawn  and  foliage,  lighting  the 
world  as  it  can  only  light  it  just  before  it  slips 
away  behind  the  hills  to  carry  the  promise  of  a 
new  day  to  other  lands.  Within  the  library 
all  was  wonderfully  peaceful  and  quiet.  It  was 
a  very  attractive  room,  pervaded  with  the  home 
atmosphere  that  only  a  much-used,  well -loved 
room  can  possess.  A  sort  of  individuality  of 
each  member  of  the  family,  as  though  even  in 
their  absence  they  left  there  something  which 

71 


DENI'SE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

could  not  fail  to  recall  their  presence.  In  the 
bay-window  stood  a  monstrous  leather-covered 
arm-chair.  A  motherly-fatherly  sort  of  chair 
that  said  :  "  Come,  snuggle  within  my  inviting 
depths  and  tell  me  all  your  secrets,  and  whether 
they  be  joyful  or  sad,  I'll  prove  a  comfort 
to  you." 

It  was  five  o'clock.  As  the  cuckoo  clock  an- 
nounced the  fact  to  all  who  cared  to  know  it,  a 
stately  pad,  pad,  pad,  came  stalking  across  the 
piazza,  and  a  second  later  Sailor's  great  head 
pushed  aside  the  curtains  and  he  looked  into  the 
room.  That  no  one  was  visible  did  not  seem  to 
deter  him  in  the  least,  for  walking  over  to  the 
fur  rug  which  lay  upon  the  floor  beside  the 
couch,  he  stretched  himself  at  length  upon  it, 
and  lay  there  with  his  head  raised  in  a  listening 
attitude.  Pat,  pat,  pat,  came  the  sound  of  small 
hurrying  feet  through  the  hall,  and  in  ran 
Beauty  Buttons  with  a  "  woof,  woof,"  by  way 
of  salutation.  He,  too,  evidently  expected 
others  to  follow,  for,  after  settling  himself  com- 

72 


THE    SUNSET   HOUR 

fortably  between  Sailor's  great  front  paws,  he 
listened  with  ears  erect. 

But  he  must,  indeed,  have  possessed  acute 
hearing  to  have  detected  the  footfalls  of  the 
next  arrivals,  for  not  until  they  had  crossed 
the  piazza,  and  slipped  beneath  the  curtains, 
did  they  make  the  least  sound.  Then  a 
warbly  little  "  r-r-r-r-rwow  "  told  that  Hero 
wished  to  say  "  good-evening,"  and  Leander, 
who  was  never  far  away  from  his  lady-love, 
echoed  her  greeting  in  deeper  tones.  Advancing 
toward  the  dogs  with  tails  held  straight  up  in 
the  air,  they  rubbed  against  Sailor's  long  hair 
and  then  sought  the  places  they  preferred  in 
the  library.  Hero  was  soon  perched  upon  the 
top  of  the  big  chair  in  the  window,  and  Leander 
blinked  at  her  from  the  luxurious  billows  of  a 
bright  red  sofa-pillow  which  lay  upon  the  couch 
near  at  hand.  The  two  cats  were  so  exactly 
alike  that  it  would  have  been  impossible  to  tell 
one  from  the  other  had  not  Denise  tied  a  red 
ribbon   upon   Leander  and  a   blue   one   upon 

73 


DENISE   AND    NED    T  OODLES 

Hero,  which  contrasted  finely  with  their  maltese 
coats. 

Apparently  the  stage  was  now  properly  set 
for  the  "  stars,"  and  a  moment  later  Mrs.  Lom- 
bard came  into  the  room  and  took  her  seat  in 
the  big  chair,  stopping  on  her  way  to  stroke  the 
dogs  and  Leander. 

As  she  sat  down  Hero  welcomed  her  with  a 
soft  little  warbly  sound  she  reserved  for  those 
she  loved,  and,  arching  her  back,  rubbed  her 
silky  coat  against  Mrs.  Lombard's  face. 

"Dear  old  pussykins,  are  you  glad  that  'cosy 
hour '  has  come  ?"  she  asked  the  cat,  as  she 
stroked  her.  And  Hero  gave  another  little 
throaty  meow,  which  no  doubt  meant  that.it 
was  a  very  happy  one  for  them  all. 

"  Good-night !  Come  over  early  in  the  morn- 
ing and  we'll  get  ready  to  launch  it,"  cried  a 
happy  voice  at  the  foot  of  the  piazza  steps,  and 
the  next  moment  Lenise's  merry  face  peered 
through  the  curtains. 

"  Oh,  there  you  all  are  !  Waiting  for  me,  as 
74 


THE    SUNSET   HOUR 

usual.  Oh,  me,  the  days  aren't  half  long 
enough,  are  they,  Moddie?  Hart  and  I  have 
so  many  plans  for  each  one  that  we  could  never 
carry  them  all  out  if  we  lived  to  be  a  hundred. 
But,  Moddie,"  she  added,  as  she  slipped  into  the 
big  chair,  whose  proportions  were  amply  large 
for  the  accommodation  of  these  two,  and, 
placing  her  arm  about  her  mother's  waist,  snug- 
gled her  head  upon  the  shoulder  that  had  neve: 
failed  her,  "  I  am  so  glad  you  got  it  all  so  nicely 
settled  about  Hart  going  home  at  five  o'clocl;. 
Of  course,  I  couldn't  say  a  word,  but  I  did  so 
miss  our  cosy  hour.  Somehow,  the  day  doesn't 
seem  finished  without  it,  for  every  day  is  sure 
to  have  just  one  little  kink  come  into  it  some- 
where, and  I  don't  know  how  to  get  it  out.  But 
when  we  have  our  talk  at  the  end  of  it,  the  kink 
flies  away,  and — it's  just  my  precious  Moddie 
who  sends  it!"  and  Denise  flung  her  other  arm 
about  her  mother  to  hug  her  as  hard  as  she 
could.  There  was  a  wonderfully  tender  light  in 
Mrs.  Lombard's  eyes  as  she  held  her  impulsive 

75 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

little  daughter  close  to  her  side,  and  answered  : 
"  This  is  a  sort  of  weather  bureau,  where  we 
prophesy  fair  weather  instead  of  foul,  and  try 
to  set  about  providing  it." 

"  Yes,  that  is  it,  I  guess,"  answered  Denise, 
falling  back  to  her  original  position,  and  hold- 
ing one  of  her  mother's  hands  in  her  own  warm 
ones.  "  You  see,  now  that  the  vacation  has  come, 
and  I  have  the  whole  day  in  which  to  think  of 
just  nobody  but  Denise  Lombard,  I  am  afraid 
that  I  think  about  her  and  her  good  times 
entirely  too  much,  and  if  I  didn't  come  in  here 
once  in  a  while  I  should  grow  just  too  selfish  to 
live.  Hart  is-  lovely,  and  we  do  have  splendid 
times,  but  he  likes  to  do  things  his  way,  and  I 
like  to  do  them  mine,  and — well,  if  it  wasn't  foi 
a  little  Moddie  who  lives  in  a  big  armchair,  I'm 
afraid  that  sometimes  I'd  be,  yes — I'm  very  much 
afraid  I'd  be  sort  of  mean.  And  then  that '  wise 
fairy  '  which  ever  so  long  ago  you  told  me  lived 
way  down  in  your  heart,  and  helped  you  know 
what  was  best  for  me,  pops  out  and  flies  to  my 

76 


THE   SUNSET   HOUR 

shoulder,  and  whispers  in  my  ear :  '  There  is  a 
little  Moddie  who  lives  in  the  armchair,  and 
by  and  by  you  will  have  to  talk  with  her,  and 
tell  her  every  little  thing  that  has  happened 
to-day,  and  if  some  of  them  are  not  pleasant  to 
tell,  then  you  will  feel  ashamed  of  yourself,  and 
she — well  she  won't  say  a  single  word,  but  her 
eyes  will  look  sorry,  and  then  you  will  feel  just 
like  a  nasty  little  worm — all  crawly  and  wrig- 
gly.' Isn't  it  funny,  Moddie,  that  I  sort  of  see 
you  when  such  things  happen  ?  It  doesn't  make 
any  difference  how  far  away  you  are.  What 
makes  it  so  ?" 

"  I  presume  it  is  the  same  influence  as  that 
which  frequently  causes  us  to  think  exactly  the 
same  thoughts  at  the  same  moment — our  great 
love  and  sympathy  for  each  other,  dear.  Our 
lives  are  so  closely  identified  that  joy  or  sorrow, 
pleasure  or  pain,  seem  to  be  mutually  shared." 

Denise  thought  a  moment  before  replying,  for, 
although  but  eleven  and  a  half  years  of  age,  she 
had  a  thoughtful  little  head  upon  her  shoulders, 

77 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

and  liked  to  reason  out  her  mother's  words,  and 
see  them  in  her  own  peculiar  light.  Presently 
she  said : 

"  That  is  funny  when  you  come  to  think  of  it, 
isn't  it?  But  I  know  it  is  true,  too,  because  it 
so  often  happens  so,  and  only  yesterday,  when  I 
was  out  on  the  lawn  with  Ned  I  was  thinking 
about  that  pink  gingham  dress  that  I  used  to 
wear  last  summer,  and  wondering  if  it  would  be 
too  small  for  me  this  year,  and  just  at  that 
moment  you  whistled  '  Bob  White,'  and  when  I 
answered  you  called  1112  to  come  up  and  try  it 
on.  Wasn't  that  odd?  I  didn't  know  that  you 
were  even  thinking  about  getting  the  dress 
out." 

"  That  is  but  one  of  many  similar  instances, 
Sweetheart.  But  apropos  of  those  much  shriv- 
elled-up  gowns,  or  is  it  that  their  owner  has 
expanded  ?"  asked  Mrs.  Lombard  as  she  looked 
into  Denise's  upturned  face  and  smiled.  "  Will 
you  be  good  enough  to  drive  me  over  to  Mary 
Murphy's  to-morrow  morning,  for  I  think  that 

78 


THE    SUNSET    HOUR 

the  little  Murphys  will  fit  into  those  garments 
to  perfection." 

"  Why,  I  promised  Hart — "  began  Denise,  and 
then  stopped  short  and  colored  slightly. 

"  What  did  you  promise  him,  dear  ?"  asked 
Mrs.  Lombard  gently. 

"  Why,  you  see,"  said  Denise,  somewhat 
embarrassed,  "  his  new  rowboat  will  be  sent  out 
this  evening,  and  he  wants  me  to  christen  it 
when  it  is  launched,  and  I  told  him  I  would. 
Of  course,  I  did  not  know  that  you  wanted  me 
to  drive  you  up  to  the  village,  or  I  would  not 
have  promised." 

"  Certainly  you  could  not  have  known  it, 
and  now  we  must  see  what  can  be  done  to 
smooth  out  these  little  kinks  that  have  been 
saucy  enough  to  obtrude  themselves  upon  us  and 
upset  our  plans." 

"  I  know  you  can  do  it,"  cried  Denise. 
"  There  is  only  one  Moddie  like  this  one,  and 
'I  got  her!'" 

"  There  is  only  one  such  madcap  of  a  daugh- 
79 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

ter,"  laughed  Mrs.  Lombard.  "  But  now  to 
continue.  I  particularly  wish  to  have  you  go 
with  me  to-morrow,  for  there  is  a  new  little 
daughter  at  Mary's  house,  and  I  think  that 
there  are  many  things  which  we  may  be  able  to 
do  for  her.  She  was  a  very  faithful  nurse  to 
you  during  the  first  five  years  of  your  life,  and 
it  gives  her  great  pleasure  to  have  you  visit  her 
and  do  these  little  things  yourself,  for  she  is 
very  proud  of  her  nursling.  So  much  for  my 
reasons  concerning  Mary.  Now  for  Hart.  It 
is  only  a  step  over  there,  I  know,  but  I  think  it 
would  be  more  courteous  if  you  were  to  sit 
down  and  write  a  little  note  to  him  explaining 
the  situation.  This  may  seem  a  trifle  formal  to 
you  both  when  you  are  such  jolly  chums,  but  it 
is  one  of  those  little  acts  which,  even  though 
they  seem  uncalled  for,  serve  to  help  you  both. 
It  shows  Hart  that  you  know  what  it  is  proper 
to  do  under  the  circumstances,  and  that  even 
though  you  are  both  children,  you  do  not  wish 
to  be  found  wanting  in  politeness  to  each  other, 


THE    SUNSET   HOUR 

and  he  will  respect  you  all  the  more  for  doing 
this.  John  may  take  your  note  to  him.  On 
the  other  hand,  it  helps  my  girl  to  learn  how  to 
write  a  graceful  note,  and  to  excuse  herself  prop- 
erly when  she  finds  it  impossible  to  keep  an 
engagement.  There !  What  do  you  think  of  all 
those  '  reasons  why '  ?" 

Denise  did  not  reply  for  a  moment  or  two, 
nor  did  Mrs.  Lombard  break  the  silence.  The 
cuckoo  opened  his  little  door  in  the  top  of  the 
clock  and  gave  one  toot,  as  though  trying  to 
break  the  silence.  Way  down  in  Denise's  heart 
lingered  a  strong  desire  to  go  with  Hart  in  the 
morning,  Mary  Murphy  and  new  babies,  never- 
theless, and  notwithstanding.  But  eleven  and 
a  half  years  of  the  firmest,  gentlest  training 
led  by  this  wise  mother  to  do  the  right  thing  sim- 
ply because  it  was  right,  and  not  because  she 
had  been  ordered  to  do  so  by  those  who  pos- 
sessed the  right  and  power  to  so  order,  had  not 
been  in  vain,  and  this  little  girl  had  grown  to 
regard  the  right  way  as  the  only  one,  and  the 

6— Denise.  8t 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

wrong  one  as  a  reflection  upon  herself.  It  was 
often  hard  to  give  up,  for  the  days  were  wonder- 
fully happy  ones.     Presently  she  asked  : 

"  When  may  I  tell  him  that  I  will  chris- 
ten it?" 

"  The  following  morning,  dear,  if  agreeable  to 
him,"  replied  Mrs.  Lombard  without  further 
comment,  for  the  heart  beside  her  was  as  plainly 
revealed  to  her  as  though  glass  instead  of  flesh 
covered  it,  and  she  well  knew  that  a  struggle 
was  going  on,  not  only  to  do  what  she  wished, 
but  to  do  it  cheerfully  and  without  regret — the 
true  beauty  of  the  doing. 

"  I'll  write  it  this  minute,"  cried  Denise, 
springing  so  suddenly  from  the  chair  that  Hero 
lost  her  balance  upon  the  top  and  tumbled  upon 
the  floor.  "  Oh,  dear  !  Isn't  that  exactly  like 
me  ?  I've  upset  Hero  and  scared  her  nearly 
out  of  her  wits  besides.  Poor  pussy,"  she  said, 
as  she  picked  the  cat  up  and  comforted  her. 
"Your  missie  is  a  madcap,  do  you  know  that?" 
and  then  a  merry  laugh  came  to  dispel  the  haze 

82 


THE    SUNSET    HOUR 

that  had  gathered,  and  the  sun  shone  forth 
again.  The  note  was  written,  and  a  wise  woman 
had  tact  enough  to  say  that  it  was  charmingly 
done,  and  that  she  was  delighted  to  see  how 
prettily  her  little  daughter  could  write,  and 
how  well  she  was  able  to  express  herself.  Only 
a  few  words  of  praise,  but  they  were  dropped 
when  most  needed,  and  served  as  a  wonderful 
balm  to  a  slightly  ruffled  spirit.  None  of  us 
are  born  saints,  and  we  all  like  to  have  our  own 
way.  Mrs.  Lombard  did  not  add  just  then  that 
she  was  much  troubled  at  the  thought  of 
Denise  going  upon  the  river  with  Hart,  or  that 
she  feared  she  must  forbid  it.  It  was  not  the 
moment  for  doing  so,  and  would  have  seriously 
marred  the  beautiful  harmony  of  the  hour. 
Nevertheless,  she  had  decided  that  she  could 
not  let  her  go  until  she  had  learned  more  of 
Hart's  seamanship  and  tested  it  herself.  But 
that  would  all  adjust  itself  later. 

Just  as  the  letter  was  finished  the  whistle  of 
the   incoming    train    told    that   Mr.    Lombard 

83 


DENISE   AND    NED    TODDLES 

would  be  with  them  presently,  and  by  the  time 
both  had  reached  the  entrance  to  the  grounds, 
with  two  dogs  and  two  cats  as  body-guard,  Sun- 
shine and  Flash  came  spinning  along  the  road 
and  neighed  aloud  as  Denise  called  out,  "Oh, 
papa  L.,  papa  L. !  here  we  are !"  for  these 
horses  did  not  dread  their  driver,  and  loved  the 
voices  they  knew  so  well.  Mr.  Lombard  stepped 
from  the  carriage  at  the  gate,  and,  slipping  an 
arm  about  his  wife  and  sunny  little  daughter, 
walked  with  them  toward  the  house,  the  dogs 
and  cats  crowding  about  him  and  claiming  the 
notice  which  they  never  claimed  in  vain.  The 
peace  of  all  the  world  lay  upon  that  home. 


84 


CHAPTER  VII 

"  oh,  we'll  sail  the  ocean  blue  I" 

"TT  TE  will  stop  at  the  market,  dear,  and 

W  w         lay    in    a    supply   of    goodies    for 

Mary,"  said  Mrs.  Lombard,  as  she 

took  her  seat  in  the  phaeton  beside  Denise,  the 

following  morning. 

"  'Allee  rightie,'  as  John  Chinaman  said  to 
me  the  other  day  when  I  stopped  for  papa's 
laundry  work.  Good-by,  Hinky-Dinky,  we'll 
come  back  before  long,  and  I  am  going  to  bring 
you  a  surprise,"  she  called  out  to  Hart,  who  had 
just  crawled  through  the  opening  in  the  hedge. 
"  Moddie  says  she  has  thought  of  a  splendid 
plan,  and  you'll  be  glad  we  waited  till  to- 
morrow to  launch  the  boat.  There,  it's  lucky 
Miss  Meredith  didn't  hear  that  sentence !     She 

85 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

would  ask  me  when  I'd  landed,"  and  Denise's 
laugh  rang  out  upon  the  balmy  June  air. 

"  The  old  thing  didn't  come  anyway,  Snipen- 
frizzle,"  called  Hart,  as  the  carriage  rolled  out 
of  the  grounds.  "  It  won't  be  out  till  to-night, 
papa  says.  There  was  something  wanting  for 
the  rudder.  Tralla!"  and  he  waved  his  hat 
and  disappeared  within  the  "  Bird's  Nest,"  there 
to  lose  himself  in  one  of  the  numerous  books 
which  the  book-shelves  held,  for  Denise's  library 
was  an  extensive  one,  and  she  was  as  fond  of 
boys'  stories  as  she  was  of  girls'. 

After  purchasing  a  generous  supply  of  good 
t-hings  for  Mary,  they  drove  to  the  little  cottage 
in  which  she  lived  and  reared  her  numerous 
progeny.  There  were  six  all  told,  and  Patsy, 
of  dirty-face  fame,  was  the  eldest,  But  Patsy 
had  improved  somewhat  of  late.  Possibly  the 
possession  of  a  wash-bowl  and  its  accessories  for 
his  very  own  exclusive  use  had  incited  a  desire 
to  live  up  to  such  elegancies,  for  Mrs.  Lombard 
had  made  it  her  duty  to  send  him  one  directly 

86 


WE'LL   SAIL  THE   OCEAN   BLUE 

Denise  had  related  to  her  the  conversation  held 
with  the  incorrigible  Patsy  during  the  previous 
summer. 

At  all  events  Patsy  was  the  proud  owner  of 
"  a  foin  bowel  an'  pitcher,  all  blue  on  wan  soide, 
an'  white  on  'tither,"  and  sallied  forth  each 
morning  shining  and  radiant. 

"Ah,  Miss  Denise,  darlint,  an'  have  ye  come 
to  see  me  ba-b-y  !"  said  Mary  when  Denise's 
smiling  face  peeped  through  the  doorway. 

"Yes,  here  we  are,  Mary,  and  have  brought 
along  the  expressman,  too.  See  him  ?  He 
wears  dresses,"  she  cried,  as  she  placed  upon  a 
chair  the  parcel  she  was  carrying.  Mrs.  Lom- 
bard followed  close  behind  with  a  basket  of  ju-o- 
visions,  and  a  moment  later  Mary's  eyes  were 
gladdened  by  the  sight  of  a  very  substantial 
supply  of  eatables. 

"  Now,  Blossom,"  said  Mrs.  Lombard,  "  while 
I  take  a  few  stitches  for  Mary  and  this  new 
baby,  I  want  you  to  play  '  Polly '  and  put  the 
kettle  on.     We  will  get  dinner  started,  Mary, 

87 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

and  when  Patrick  arrives  lie  can  eat  it  and  clean 
house." 

"  Ah,  the  poor  childe  mustn't  be  doing  such 
work  for  the  likes  of  me,"  protested  Mary.  "Sure, 
she  don't  know  nothin'  of  this  worrk." 

"  Don't  I,  though  !"  cried  Denise,  giving  an 
emphatic  nod.  "  What  do  you  think  I  have 
had  all  my  '  Bird's  Nest '  cooking  lessons  for, 
I'd  like  to  know  ?  What  shall  I  do,  Moddie  ? 
You  sit  still  and  talk  to  Mary  while  I  play 
cook.     What  fun  !" 

"  Make  some  tea,  dearie,  and  put  the  beef 
over  for  the  broth.  Then  put  on  that  piece  of 
corned  beef  for  Patrick's  dinner.  My  sweet- 
heart knows  what  to  do,"  said  Mrs.  Lombard, 
stopping  to  give  Denise  one  of  the  little  love- 
pats  that  meant  so  much,  and  then,  taking  her 
seat  beside  Mary,  she  began  to  sew  upon  some 
garments  for  the  new  baby. 

"  May  I  have  this  big  apron,  Mary  ?"  asked 
Denise,  taking  up  a  huge  gingham  one  which 
lay  upon  a  chair  and  enveloping  herself  in  it 


WE'LL  SAIL  THE   OCEAN   BLUE 

till  she  nearly  vanished  from  sight.  "  Now  for 
it,"  she  added,  rolling  back  her  sleeves,  and 
seizing  the  poker.  "  Moddie  says  that  it's  no 
use  to  try  to  cook  with  a  poor  fire,  so  you 
see  how  well  I  remember  my  lessons,  Mary,"  and 
the  little  poker  rattled  at  a  great  rate.  Then, 
catching  up  the  kettle,  she  ran  to  the  sink  to  fill 
it  with  fresh  water. 

"Where  shall  I  find  the  saucepan,  Mary  ?" 

"  Jist  beyant  in  that  little  cupboard,  darlint. 
Faith,  did  iver  I  see  the  loikes  of  the  child. 
Sure,  ma'am,  'tis  a  housekaper  she  is  alriddy." 

"  She  cannot  begin  too  soon,  Mary.  It  is  all 
play  now,  but  there  may  come  a  time  when  she 
will  be  very  glad  to  have  learned  it  all  in  this 
pleasant  manner." 

Meantime  the  preparations  went  on.  The 
chopped  beef  was  put  back  upon  the  stove  to 
simmer  in  the  cold  water  till  all  the  rich  juices 
were  extracted.  Patrick's  big  piece  of  corned 
beef  was  put  into  a  big  pot  and  placed  beside  it, 
some  potatoes  were  carefully  washed  and  peeled 

89 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

and  left  in  cold  water  until  needed.  And  all 
this  time  Denise  was  humming  away  like  a  big 
bumblebee.  And  all  this  was  the  result  of  the 
little  playhouse  training  which  this  mother, 
whom  the  neighbors  sometimes  termed  "  over- 
indulgent,"  had  carried  on  in  the  guise  of  play, 
till  this  little  girl,  now  in  her  twelfth  year,  had 
become  a  capable,  helpful  little  body,  able  to 
do  her  share  of  the  world's  work  should  occa- 
sion ever  arise  for  it.  And  years  later,  when 
the  dear  mother  was  no  more,  and  Denise, 
grown  to  womanhood,  was  forced  to  meet  the 
vicissitudes  of  life,  her  thoughts  often  went  back 
to  those  happy  days  and  the  precious  mother, 
who  taught  so  wisely  and  wTell  that,  as  though  the 
mother  eyes  were  capable  of  looking  into  the 
future  and  there  seeing  all  that  lay  in  store  for 
this  cherished  little  daughter,  she  was  fitted 
when  the  necessity  arose  for  it  to  meet  the  duties 
which  lay  upon  every  hand. 

"  Tea  is  all  ready,"  announced  Denise,  as  she 
brought   to    her    mother    and    Mary    fragrant, 

90 


WE'LL  SAIL  THE   OCEAN   BLUE 

steaming  cups.  True,  the  cups  were  not  of 
u  egg-shell "  china,  but  the  tea  was  properly 
made,  and  everything  was  clean  as  wax,  for, 
notwithstanding  her  six  children  and  hard 
work,  Mary  was  a  neat  woman,  and  everything 
in  her  house  testified  thereto.  Twelve  o'clock 
had  struck  upon  the  town  clock  before  all  was 
completed,  and  Denise  had  just  set  the  potatoes 
on  to  boil  when  Patrick  came  home  and  the 
children  came  rushing  in  from  school. 

"  Now  we  will  leave  you  to  your  many  nurses," 
said  Mrs.  Lombard,  as  she  arose  from  her  chair. 

"  Don't  you  let  my  potatoes  burn,  Patrick," 
said  Denise,  wagging  an  admonishing  finger  at 
him. 

"Indade  no,  that  I  will  not,"  said  Patrick, 
positively.  "They'll  be  the  foines'  taties  that 
iver  was  at  all,  Miss  Denise." 

Upon  the  way  home  Denise  spied  some  circus 
posters,  and  was  at  once  filled  with  a  desire  to 
see  the  circus,  for  anything  in  which  horses 
were  introduced  was  bliss  unalloyed  for  her. 

9i 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

"  They  will  be  here  on  the  seventh  !"  she 
cried.  "  The  very  day  that  Pokey  will  come  ! 
Oh,  Moddie,  how  splendid !  We  can  go,  can't 
we  ?     Papa  will  surely  take  us." 

"  I  wouldn't  wonder,"  answered  Mrs.  Lom- 
bard, with  the  expression  which  Denise  knew  to 
mean  "  yes." 

For  the  next  few  days  Denise  could  hardly 
think  of  anything  else,  and  no  suspicion  of  the 
startling  events  which  would  take  place  ere 
that  circus,  which  proved  to  be  a  circus  in  more 
senses  than  one,  and  its  proprietor,  passed  out 
of  her  life,  ever  entered  her  head. 

Hart  was  waiting  for  them  at  the  turn  of 
the  road,  and  Pinto  and  Ned  exchanged  greet- 
ings with  joyous  neighs.  He  cantered  along 
beside  them,  his  tongue  and  Denise's  keeping 
time  to  the  ponies'  clattering  feet. 

That  evening  the  new  boat  was  delivered  at 
Mr.  Murray's  house.  It  was  a  fairy-like  little 
craft,  built  of  cedar  and  shining  with  its  fresh 
varnish.    Of  course,  Denise  was  upon  the  scene 

92 


WE'LL  SAILTHE  OCEAN   BLUE 

when  it  was  taken  from  the  long  express-wagon, 
and  nearly  as  eager  as  Hart  to  see  it  in  the 
water. 

Without  letting  the  children  suspect  it,  Mrs. 
Lombard  had  made  a  fine  silk  flag  and  embroid- 
ered thereupon  Hart's  monogram.  Then,  to 
make  the  launching  like  a  "really  truly  one," 
she  bought  a  tiny  bottle  of  cider,  warranted  to 
smash  and  sizzle  in  the  most  approved  style. 

While  they  were  at  breakfast  the  next  morn- 
ing Hart's  face  peeped  in  at  the  window,  for 
boyish  patience  was  stretched  to  the  snapping- 
point. 

"  I've  only  two  more  bites  of  beefsteak  to 
eat,  and  then  I'll  come,"  said  Denise,  when  Mrs. 
Lombard  added,  "  Come  in  here,  laddie,  and 
help  us  eat  some  of  this  fruit,"  for  she  had  no 
notion  of  letting  the  children  out  of  her  sight 
until  she  could  follow  behind. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  those  bouncers  ?" 
asked  Mr.  Lombard,  holding  up  a  big  bunch  of 
bright  scarlet  cherries.     "  Ah,  all !     Tell  your 

93 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

father  that  my  cherry-tree  has  beaten  his  this 
year.  Put  some  of  these  beauties  in  a  little 
basket,  Mary,  and  give  them  to  Master  Hart  to 
take  over  to  his  mother  with  my  compliments. 
One  must  be  generous  to  one's  neighbors  when 
one  has  fine  cherries  to  show  off,"  laughed  Mr. 
Lombard. 

By  the  time  Hart  had  eaten  his  fill,  and  the 
basket  was  ready  to  be  carried  to  Mrs.  Murray, 
Mr.  Lombard  had  left  for  town,  and  his  wife 
was  ready  to  be  present  at  the  launching. 

"  What  is  the  boat  to  be  named  ?"  she  asked, 
as  she  followed  the  children  down  to  the  river, 
with  Ned,  Tan,  and  the  two  dogs  trotting  along 
with  them,  for  Denise  rarely  stirred  without 
her  family  surrounding  her. 

"  Why,  do  you  know  that  we  haven't  been 
able  to  decide  yet,"  said  Hart,  rather  dismayed 
at  the  thought. 

"  He  wants  to  call  it  '  Denise,' "  said  the 
owner  of  that  name,  "  but  I  don't  think  that  it 
will  mean  much  for  the  boat,  do  you  ?" 

94 


WE'LL  SAIL  THE  OCEAN   BLUE 

"  He  pays  you  a  very  pretty  compliment," 
answered  Mrs.  Lombard. 

"  Yes,  I  know  that,  but  it  seems  to  me  a  boat 
ought  to  have  a  name  that  sort  of  means  some- 
thing about  water,  and  sailing,  and  all  that." 

"  Why  not  call  it  the  River  Kelpie  f  That 
means  something." 

"  There !  you  have  just  hit  it !  That's  splen- 
did. She  is  as  light  as  a  fairy,  and  those  things 
are  water-fairies,  aren't  they  ?" 

"  Yes,  little  water-sprites  who  come  to  the 
surface  and  do  all  sorts  of  graceful,  fascinating 
things." 

"  Then  that's  what  she  is  going  to  be  called. 
What  a  shame  that  we  haven't  got  a  real  simon- 
pure  bottle  to  smash  on  her  bow,"  he  added 
regretfully. 

"  How  will  this  answer  for  a  substitute  ?" 
asked  Mrs.  Lombard,  as  she  drew  from  the 
little  bag  she  was  carrying  a  miniature  cham- 
pagne bottle,  gayly  decked  with  blue  ribbons. 

u  Oh !     I  say  1     Aren't  you  just  a  tramp !" 

7—Benise.  95 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

cried  Hart,  surprised  into  genuine  boyish 
praise.  "  That's  a  regular  jim  dandy,  and 
Denise  can  smash  it  to  smithereens.  Quick, 
let's  get  her  launched !" 

The  little  boat  lay  high  and  dry  upon  the 
rocks,  and  a  moment  later  Hart  and  Denise 
had  carried  it  to  the  water's  edge,  for  it  was  as 
light  as  a  feather,  and  they  could  easily  handle 
it.  To  put  it  into  the  water  stern  foremost, 
letting  the  bow  rest  upon  sand  until  the  cere- 
mony of  christening  it  was  ended,  took  but  a 
few  seconds,  and,  grasping  the  little  bottle  by  its 
ribbon-decked  neck,  Denise  bent  over  the  bow 
saying :  "  I  christen  thee  the  Water  Kelpie !" 
As  the  last  word  left  her  lips,  SMASH  went 
the  bottle,  and  a  vigorous  push  from  Hart  sent 
the  boat  into  the  water,  he  singing  at  the  top  of 
his  lungs :  "  Oh,  we'll  sail  the  ocean  blue,"  and 
Mrs.  Lombard  joining  in  with  a  will. 

After  the  children  had  somewhat  subsided 
from  the  Indian  war-dance  whicji  followed  the 
launching,  Mrs.  Lombard  said : 

96 


WE'LL  SAIL  THE  OCEAN   BLUE 

"And  may  I  have  the  honor  of  presenting  to 
the  captain  of  this  beautiful  craft  the  private 
signal,  which  I  hope  will  add  to  its  attractions 
and  wave  to  his  glory  as  long  as  the  vessel  rides 
the  waves  ?" 

The  shrieks  of  delight  which  greeted  the 
pretty  flag  when  she  unrolled  it  from  its  wrap- 
pings left  her  no  doubt  of  its  reception.  It  was 
mounted  upon  a  slender  cedar  staff,  which  fitted 
exactly  the  little  socket  in  the  stern,  and  Mrs. 
Lombard  never  hinted  that  a  note  sent  to  Mr. 
Murray  when  Denise  had  sent  hers  to  Hart  had 
been  the  cause  of  the  delay  in  the  delivery  of 
this  little  craft  until  the  socket  could  be  placed 
in  the  stern  all  ready  to  receive  the  flagstaff, 
whose  dimensions  she  had  given  to  Mr.  Mur- 
ray. 

Of  course,  the  Captain  was  duty  bound  to 
invite  the  donor  of  this  splendid  flag  to  accom- 
pany him  upon  his  trial  trip,  and  taking  her 
seat  in  the  stern,  with  Beauty  Buttons  beside 
her,   Denise  up   in  the  bow,  and  the  Captain 

97 

f-      - 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

"  amidships,"  off  they  glided  upon  the  calm 
river.  Sailor,  Ned,  and  Tan  were  minded  to 
follow,  but  Denise  called  out,  "  Take  them  home, 
Sailor,  that's  a  dear  dog,"  and  Sailor,  proud  of 
his  responsibilities,  waved  his  tail  in  farewell 
and  set  about  doing  her  bidding. 

More  than  an  hour  was  spent  upon  the  river, 
and  when  they  came  ashore  Mrs.  Lombard  felt 
entirely  reassured,  for  Hart  handled  his  oars 
like  an  "  old  salt,"  having  rowed  a  great  deal 
while  at  school. 

"  Thank  you  very  much  for  a  delightful 
morning,"  she  said  to  him.  "  I  shall  make  but 
one  proviso  regarding  water  expeditions,  and 
that  is  this  :  Please  ask  my  consent  before 
going,  and  then  I  shall  never  feel  anxiety." 

"  We  will !  Of  course,  we  will,"  cried  the 
children  in  chorus. 


98 


CHAPTER  VIII 

POKEY    AND    A    CIRCUS 

AS  she  had   waited  just  one  year  before, 
gayly  decked  in  blue  ribbons  in  honor 
of  the  occasion,  Denise  was  now  wait- 
ing again  for  Pokey  to  arrive. 

This  time  Ned  was  not  arrayed  in  ribbons, 
but  in  tiny  American  flags  stuck  in  every  part  of 
his  harness  that  they  could  be  stuck  and  fastened 
all  over  the  carriage,  for  it  was  the  seventh  of 
July,  and  the  glorious  Fourth  had  been  a  gala- 
day,  celebrated  with  roaring  crackers  by  day 
and  splendid  fireworks  after  dark.  Ned  had, 
as  usual,  been  prinked  out  for  so  great  an  occa- 
sion, his  decorations  being  appropriate  to  the 
day  celebrated. 

Usually  Pokey  arrived  for  her  summer  visit 
99 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

before  the  Fourth,  but  a  slight  illness,  the 
result  of  too  much  study  and  difficult  examina- 
tions, all  too  taxing  for  her  young  body  and 
brain  when  the  thermometer  stood  at  ninety, 
had  caused  a  collapse,  and  for  several  days  poor 
Pokey  lay  upon  her  bed  with  her  heart  play- 
ing a  wild  tattoo,  and  her  brain  working  like  a 
runaway  engine.  Had  she  not  had  the  prospect 
of  her  visit  before  her,  it  is  probable  that  she 
would  have  lain  upon  that  bed  several  days 
longer,  for  the  very  thought  of  exerting  herself 
brought  added  weariness.  But  up  the  Hudson 
River  there  waited  a  lovely  little  white  bed,  a 
pretty  room  to  be  shared  with  some  one  she  loved 
dearly,  and,  blessed  thought,  sunshine,  green 
grass,  great  spreading  trees  that  whispered  all 
manner  of  secrets  to  this  dreaming  little  body, 
and  a  welcome  which  left  nothing  to  be  desired. 
So  Pokey  made  haste  to  get  better  and  start 
upon  her  two  hours'  journey,  but  it  was  a  pale, 
tli in  little  Pokey  that  stepped  from  the  train 
into  Denise's  outstretched  arms. 

ioo 


POKEY   AND    A    CIRCUS 

She  was  somewhat  taller,  and  that  made  her 
seem  even  more  slender,  but  it  was  the  same 
Pokey,  and  Ned  Toodles  greeted  her  with  a 
cordial  neigh. 

"  And  what  do  you  think !"  cried  Denise, 
when  they  were  spinning  along  home,  Ned 
occasionally  joining  in  their  conversation  with 
a  sociable  whinney,  "  a  circus  is  here,  and  papa 
is  going  to  take  us  all  to  see  it.  It  is  going  to 
parade  through  the  town  at  eleven,  and  as  soon 
as  we  have  seen  mamma  and  grandma  we'll  drive 
up  to  the  village  and  see  it.  It  won't,  of  course, 
come  down  this  way.  I  left  Ned  all  dressed 
up  on  that  account.     Won't  it  be  great  fun !" 

"  You  don't  suppose  Ned  will  try  to  do  any 
of  his  tricks  when  he  sees  the  other  ponies,  do 
you  ?"  asked  Pokey,  for  a  year's  acquaintance 
with  Ned  had  not  served  to  overcome  her  mis- 
givings of  that  animal's  wild  pranks. 

"Of  course  not!  Why  should  he?  Besides  he 
couldn't  while  in  harness,"  replied  Denise,  bliss- 
fully ignorant  even  yet  of  that  little  scamp's 

IOI 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

resources  or  determination  to  carry  his  point 
once  he  set  about  doing  so.  Ned  was  never  ugly 
or  vicious,  but  well  Denise  knew  that  a  good  bit 
of  firmness  was  required  upon  her  part  when  she 
wished  to  get  him  past  the  little  store  where 
chocolate  creams  were  sold,  and  that  it  was 
always  far  wiser  to  choose  another  road  if  time 
pressed.  But  she  was  too  loyal  to  her  pet  to 
betray  his  little  weaknesses. 

"  Moddie  !  Moddie  !  grandma  !  Here  we 
come,  bag  and  baggage,  only  that  is  coming  along 
behind  escorted  by  John !"  she  cried,  as  she 
rushed  into  the  hall  with  weary  little  Pokey  fol- 
lowing her  as  fast  as  she  could. 

"  My  dear  little  girl,  how  delighted  we  are  to 
have  you  with  us  again  !"  said  Mrs.  Lombard, 
as  she  gathered  Pokey  into  her  arms,  and  dear 
old  grandma  stroked  the  tired  head  which 
nestled  upon  Mrs.  Lombard's  shoulder  as  though 
it  had  found  a  very  peaceful  haven. 

"Take  her  right  out  to  the  dining-room, 
dearie,  and  have  Mary  fetch  her  a  glass  of  cool 

102 


POKEY    AND    A    CIRCUS 

milk  and  some  little  biscuits,"  cried  grandma, 
filled  with  solicitude  for  the  little  girl. 

"  Yes,  indeed,"  added  Mrs.  Lombard,  "  we 
must  not  lose  a  moment  insetting  about  finding 
some  roses  for  these  white  cheeks." 

"  There  !  Now  you  look  quite  refreshed,  and 
when  you  have  had  a  drive  with  Ned,  and  seen 
this  great  parade  that  is  filling  all  Denise's 
thoughts,  I  am  sure  you  will  be  ready  for,  oh, 
such  a  luncheon !" 

On  their  way  to  the  village  they  were  over- 
taken by  Hart  mounted  upon  Pinto.  Knowing 
that  Pokey  was  about  to  arrive,  he  had  kept  at 
a  safe  distance  till  he  could  "  size  her  up,"  as  he 
put  it,  for  his  intercourse  with  girls  had  been 
decidedly  limited,  and  he  had  no  notion  of 
plunging  into  an  intimacy  with  one  whom  he 
had  never  seen  before.  The  hedge  was  a  safe 
covert  for  observing  all  that  took  place  in 
Denise's  grounds,  and  from  that  vantage-point 
he  had  "sized  up  "  to  his  entire  satisfaction. 

"  Guess  she  ain't  much  like  Denise,"  was  his 
103 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

mental  comment.     "  But  if  Denise  likes  her  so 
much  she  must  be  all  right." 

As  he  drew  up  beside  the  phaeton  he  was 
greeted  by  Denise,  who  said :  "  Poke}r,  this  is 
my  friend  Hart  Murray,  and  this  is  Elizabeth 
Delano,  Hart,  only  we  don't  call  her  by  her 
name  once  in  a  blue  moon.  She  is  our  very  own 
Pokey,  and  he's  Hinkey-Dinkey,"  giving  a 
laughing  Noel  toward  Hart. 

"  Yes,  and  she's  Snipenfrizzle !"  was  the 
prompt  retort. 

"  Well,  I  guess  we  all  know  each  other  now," 
laughed  Denise,  and  before  another  word  could 
be  spoken  the  sound  of  a  band  playing  in  the 
village,  just  beyond,  caused  all  to  exclaim, 
"Oh,  they've  started!  They've  started !"  and 
to  hurry  forward  as  though  one  brain  urged 
them  all.  But  upon  Ned  the  effect  of  that  band 
was  certainly  odd.  It  was  playing  "Marching 
through  Georgia,"  and  one  might  have  sup- 
posed it  to  be  his  favorite  air,  for  he  began  to 
prance  and  dance  in  perfect  time  to  it. 

104 


POKEY   AND   A    CIRCUS 

"  Do  look  at  him  !  Do  look  at  him  !"  cried 
Denise  ;  "  I  believe  lie  knows  that  march." 

"  Oh,  let's  get  out,"  begged  timid  Pokey. 
"  He  acts  as  though  he  were  crazy." 

"  Nonsense ;  he  won't  do  anything  but  mark 
time,"  answered  Denise,  laughing.  "  I  always 
said  he  knew  just  everything,  but  I  never  sup- 
posed that  he  was  a  musician." 

They  were  now  just  at  the  entrance  to  the 
village,  and  at  that  moment  the  circus  parade 
turned  in  from  a  side  street  which  led  out  to  the 
grounds  where  their  tents  were  pitched.  The 
streets  were  crowded  as  though  the  entire  town 
had  turned  out  to  see  the  show,  which,  doubt- 
less, it  had,  for  Springdale  in  those  days  was  a 
small  place,  and  circuses  did  not  often  tarry 
there.  But  this  time  it  was  to  be  an  exception, 
for  "  Backus's  Greatest  Show  on  Earth  "  had 
deigned  to  honor  the  town  with  a  two  days'  per- 
formance upon  its  way  to  the  more  important 
town  of  Sing  Sing  further  up  the  river.  It 
would  give  a  performance  this  Saturday  after- 

105 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

noon  and  evening,  "  rest  up "  on  Sunday, 
give  another  on  Monday,  and  then  "  fold  its 
tents  like  the  Arabs  "  and  depart,  leaving  many 
an  enthusiastic  youngster  behind  who  would  live 
for  six  months  upon  his  memories  of  its  delights, 
and  for  another  six  upon  his  anticipations  of 
its  return.  It  was,  indeed,  a  gorgeous  pageant 
which  burst  upon  the  children's  sight,  for  in  a 
splendid  golden  chariot  blared  and  tooted  a 
brass  band,  the  musicians  resplendent  in  red 
uniforms,  and  blowing  as  though  their  very 
lives  depended  upon  the  volume  of  sound  they 
could  make,  and  six  handsome  white  horses 
pranced  and  curveted  before  it.  Then  came  a 
pale-blue  and  gold  chariot  drawn  by  six  of  the 
dearest  piebald  ponies  one  ever  saw,  and  with 
whom  Ned  instantly  claimed  kinship  with  a 
regular  rowdy  "  hullo-yourself "  neigh.  But 
you  have  all  doubtless  seen  circus  parades,  and 
know  all  about  the  knights  and  fairies,  beauti- 
ful horses  with  their  gay  riders,  elephants,  cam- 
els, wild   animals   and    tame   ones  which  go  to 

1 06 


POKEY   AND    A    CIRCUS 

make  up  a  show  which  will  be  in  vogue  as  long 
as  children  are,  and  when  they  drop  out  of  this 
world's  economy,  then  the  sooner  we  all  scurry- 
out  of  sight,  too,  the  better.  But  it  is  with  one 
particular  pony  that  we  must  deal,  and  a  sum- 
mary dealing  it  is  liable  to  prove  before  it 
ends.  All  the  time  the  parade  was  passing  Ned 
kept  up  an  incessant  fidgeting,  tugging  at  the 
reins,  pawing  the  ground,  shaking  his  head 
up  and  down,  and  only  restrained  from  plunging 
headlong  into  the  midst  of  it  all  by  Denise's 
firm  hand.  Pinto  stood  behind  the  phaeton, 
but,  save  for  a  start  or  two  of  surprise  when 
an  exceptionally  loud  toot  was  blown,  he 
behaved  like  a  gentleman.  The  children 
were  as  close  to  the  line  of  march  as  they 
well  could  be  without  the  ponies'  noses  brush- 
ing the  elephant's  sides,  when  there  came 
along  a  magnificent  black  horse,  bearing  upon 
his  back  the  grand  high  mogul  of  the  show. 
This  was  the  manager,  so  the  posters  an- 
nounced,   mounted   upon    "his    splendid    Sin- 

107 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

bad    the    Great,    most    wonderful    performing 
horse  in  the  world." 

Just  then  the  parade  was  obliged  to  halt  for 
a  moment  or  two,  and  the  handsome  horse  and 
his  rider  stopped  directly  in  front  of  the  chil- 
dren. With  a  "  Hullo,  how-are-you-glad-to- 
make-your  acquaintance "  air,  Ned  poked  out 
his  muzzle  and  greeted  Sinbad  the  Great.  As 
Sinbad  was  a  true  gentleman,  and  not  to  be 
outdone  in  politeness,  down  came  his  nose  to 
meet  little  perky  Ned's,  and  they  held  a  second's 
whispered  conversation — a  conversation  fraught 
with  fatal  results  for  Ned,  as  will  be  seen. 

Now  Sinbad's  rider  had  a  pair  of  eyes  which 
just  nothing  escaped,  and  one  sweeping  glance 
took  in  every  detail  of  pony,  phaeton,  and  chil- 
dren. 

Nodding  pleasantly  to  them  he  addressed 
Denise  with  : 

"Fine  little  horse  you've  got  there.  Had 
him  long?     He  doesn't  look  very  old." 

"Nearly  two  years.     I  just  guess  he  is  fine! 
1 08 
i 


POKEY   AND    A    CIRCUS 

There  isn't  another  like  him  in  all  the  world. 
He  is  not  nine  years  old  yet." 

"  Want  to  sell  him  ?"  asked  the  man. 

"  Well,  I  just  guess  NOT !."  was  the  indignant 
reply. 

"Live  here?"  was  the  next  question,  but 
Denise  began  to  think  that  this  bravely  decked 
individual  was  decidedly  curious,  and  hesitated 
before  answering.  Before  she  had  made  up  her 
mind  to  do  so,  the  parade  moved  on,  and  a  few 
moments  later  the  last  donkey  had  passed. 
Then  Ned  took  matters  into  his  own  hands,  or 
rather  his  teeth,  and  did  that  which  he  had 
never  done  before  since  Denise  had  owned  him  : 
He  positively  refused  to  turn  around  and 
go  home,  and  neither  coaxing,  threats,  nor  a 
loudly-cracked  whip  had  the  least  effect  upon 
him.  Shake  his  head,  back,  paw,  and  act  like 
a  regular  little  scamp  was  all  he  would  do,  and 
at  last,  growing  tired  of  trying  to  make  her 
understand  what  he  did  want,  he  resolved  to  show 
her,  and  off  he  went,  pelting  ahead  till  he  had 

109 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

overtaken  the  vanishing  circus,  wheeling  aside 
to  avoid  those  at  the  end,  tearing  along  until 
he  had  overtaken  the  part  of  the  parade  in 
which  Sinbad  was  still  delighting  all  beholders, 
and  then,  neck  or  nothing,  forcing  his  way, 
carriage,  occupants,  and  all,  right  in  behind 
that  wily  beast  whose  whisper  had  surely  been  : 
"  Come  on  behind  me  and  we'll  cut  a  dash,  see 
if  we  don't." 

Having  achieved  his  object,  Master  Ned  was 
triumphant,  and  no  French  dancing-master  ever 
pirouetted  and  "  showed  off"  for  the  admiration 
of  all  beholders  as  did  this  vain  little  scrap  of  a 
beast  as  he  danced  along  in  perfect  time  to  the 
band. 

Pokey  was  very  nearly  reduced  to  a  state  of 
collapse,  for  Sinbad  the  Great  was  making  the 
path  before  them  rather  lively,  while  just  behind 
stalked  a  huge  elephant  who  now  and  again  by 
way  of  welcome  to  the  ranks  gracefully  flour- 
ished a  wriggling  trunk  over  the  phaeton. 

Denise's  face  was  a  study.    Never  before  had 

IIO 


POKEY   AND    A    CIRCUS 

she  met  with  open  rebellion  upon  Ned's  part, 
and  this  first  exhibition  of  it  was  certainly  a 
triumph.  Although  thoroughly  frightened,  she 
sat  holding  her  reins  for  dear  life,  with  no 
thought  of  deserting  her  post,  while  Pokey 
begged  her  piteously  to  "  please  drive  home." 

"  Home !  Don't  you  suppose  I  want  to  go 
there  every  bit  as  much  as  you  do?  But  how 
can  I  when  this  little  villain  is  acting  so  like 
time  ?  I  can't  get  out  and  leave  him,  can  I  ?" 
and  just  then  Hart  came  tearing  alongside  the 
line  shouting : 

"  Hello,  Snipenfrizzle,  I'm  off  for  home  to 
tell  your  mother  that  you've  joined  the  circus 
and  the  next  time  she  sees  you  you  will  be 
riding  bareback !  Good-by,"  and  with  a  wild 
whoop  he  pelted  off  down  the  road,  Ned  whin- 
nying out  after  Pinto:  "Oh,  I'm  having  the 
time  of  my  life  !" 

Then  the  funny  side  of  the  whole  affair 
appealed  to  Denise  and  saved  her  from  tears, 
and  she  began  to  laugh.    Never  say  that  animals 

8  —  Dstiise.  I  j  I 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

do  not  know  the  different  tones  of  the  human 
voice !  If  others  do  not,  Ned  did,  and  that 
familiar  laugh  was  the  one  thing  wanting  to 
complete  his  festive  mood,  and  if  he  had  cut 
shines  before,  he  simply  outdid  himself  now, 
and  not  till  he  had  followed  that  circus  parade 
over  the  entire  town,  and  marched  straight  into 
the  big  tent  behind  Sinbad,  did  he  decide  that 
he  had  had  enough  excitement,  and  consent  to 
go  home.  At  half-past  one  he  walked  sedately 
up  the  driveway,  and  as  John  led  him  off  to 
his  stable,  roundly  berating  him  for  his  prank, 
he  heaved  a  sigh  which  said  as  plainly  as  words 
could  have  done :  "  Well,  I've  kicked  over  the 
traces  for  once  in  my  life,  anyway." 


112 


CHAPTER  IX 

THE  EARTH  OPENS  AND  POKEY  IS  SWALLOWED  UP 

"  "IT  "X  TELL,  how  soon  can  you  all  be  ready  ? 

\  V        ^e  mus^  Se^  an  earty  start  if  we 
expect  to  secure  the  best  seats  in  the 
house,"  cried  Mr.  Lombard,  as  dessert  was  being 
served  at  dinner  that  night. 

"  Oh,  we'll  be  ready  the  very  minute  we've 
finished,"  cried  Denise,  who  was  so  eager  to 
start  that  she  would  willingly  have  dispensed 
with  dessert  altogether. 

"  How  soon  can  you  be  ready,  mamma,"  he 
asked. 

"  As  quickly  as  I  can  stick  in  a  hatpin  to 
keep  my  hat  from  tumbling  off  when  I  laugh," 
replied  Mrs.  Lombard. 

"  And  you,  mother  ?" 
"3 


DENISE   AND    NED    T  OODLES 

"  Why,  Lewis  Lombard,  are  you  crazy  ?" 
demanded  grandma.  "  Do  you  suppose  that  I 
am  going  to  a  circus  at  my  time  of  life?" 

"  To  be  sure  you  are  !  We're  all  of  us  going, 
the  whole  family,  from  you  down  to  cook,  John 
and  his  family  included.  I've  ordered  down  a 
hack  from  the  village,  and  away  we  all  go.  Dear 
me,  you  don't  suppose  that  we  are  going  to  let 
such  a  rare  treat  as  'Backus's  Greatest  Show  on 
Earth'  go  by  unappreciated.  Certainly  not!" 
and  Mr.  Lombard  leaned  back  in  his  chair  to 
laugh  in  his  hearty  way  that  proved  so  infec- 
tious that  none  could  resist. 

And  it  was  not  long  before  he  was  assisting 
his  family  into  one  of  the  village  hacks  sent 
down,  rather  than  use  his  own  horses  and  so 
deprive  the  help  of  their  treat,  for  his  thoughts 
were  always  for  the  pleasure  he  could  give  to 
high  or  lowly.  Hart  was  perched  in  front  with 
the  driver,  for  he  had  been  borrowed  for  the 
occasion ;  grandma,  still  protesting  that  "  it  was 
utterly  absurd  for  a  woman  of  seventy  to  attend 

114 


POKEY    IS   SWALLOWED   UP 

a  circus,"  sat  with  Mrs.  Lombard  on  the  back 
seat,  while  her  son  assured  her  that  she  "  was  his 
best  girl  and  that  no  fellow  ever  went  to  a  circus 
without  his  best  girl."  "And  you're  my 
'  second  best,'  "  he  said,  as  he  put  his  arm  around 
Pokey,  who  sat  between  him  and  Denise  on  the 
front  seat,  "  and  I  shall  put  you  one  side  of  me 
and  grandma  upon  the  other,  just  to  keep  you 
from  getting  into  mischief.  Grandma  looks 
sedate  enough,  but  you  must  never  judge  from 
appearances." 

"  Right  this  way,  gentlemen  and  ladies ! 
Right  this  way  to  secure  the  finest  reserved 
seats  in  the  house!  Fine  cushioned  parquet 
chairs.  Comfortable  as  your  own  luxwrus  sofas 
at  home.  Don't  lose  a  moment !  They're 
going  fast !  Seventy-five  cents  each  for  first 
choice !"  shouted  the  ticket-seller,  perched  in  a 
funny  little  tent  all  by  himself  at  the  entrance 
to  the  big  tent. 

"  That's  just  what  we're  after !  Here  are 
six   of  us ;    now   let's   see   how   well   you   are 

115 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

going  to  treat  us!"  said  Mr.  Lombard  to  the 
man. 

The  smile  with  which  it  was  said  sent  a  cheer- 
ing ray  straight  down  into  the  man's  tired  heart, 
for,  whatever  it  might  seem  to  the  public,  circus 
life  was  not  bliss  unalloyed,  as  this  ticket-seller 
had  learned  to  his  sorrow.  "  Treat  you  first- 
class,  sir !  Six  fine  seats  all  in  line  on  third 
row.  Just  high  enough  to  see  the  whole  arena, 
and  escape  any  dust !  Here  you  are  !  Thank 
you,  sir.  Thank  you,  sir,"  as  Mr.  Lombard  laid 
the  money  upon  the  little  shelf  and  gathered  up 
the  six  tickets.  But  as  he  did  not  pass  on,  the 
man  looked  at  him  rather  questioningly.  "  Now 
I  want  seven  more  somewhere  else.  How  about 
your  fifty-cent  seats  ?     Got  plenty  of  those  ?"  ' 

If  the  man  had  beamed  before,  he  fairly 
glowed  now,  for  such  customers  were  rare.  "  All 
you  want,  sir  !     All  you  want !"  he  cried. 

Mr.  Lombard  made  his  second  purchase,  and 
then,  turning  to  the  man  who  had  driven  them 
up,  said  : 

116 


POKEY    IS    SWALLOWED    UP 

"  Now  get  along  back  for  your  second  load, 
and  here's  a  ticket  for  yourself  when  you've 
safely  landed  all  the  help  at  the  show.  Tie  up 
your  horses  where  they'll  be  comfortable — I've 
made  that  all  right  with  Mr.  Andrews — and  see 
the  whole  thing.  Only  don't  forget  us  when  it's 
over.  There  will  be  another  hack  along  for 
John  and  the  maids  when  needed." 

"  Oh,  I  say,  you're  all  right,  Mr.  Lombard," 
said  the  hackman,  with  a  broad  grin. 

I  need  not  tell  you  a  single  thing  about  the 
performance.  You  have  all  been  to  the  circus, 
and  I  dare  say  much  finer  ones  than  this  little 
country  show,  but  I  doubt  if  you  ever  laughed 
more  heartily  at  the  funny  pranks  of  the  clowns 
and  trick  ponies,  or  ever  enthused  more  wildly 
over  the  beautiful  horses  and  wonderful  trapeze 
performances,  than  did  this  happy  party.  Near 
the  end  of  the  performance  the  ringmaster 
announced  that  there  was  to  be  a  "  new  and  novel 
feature  presented  this  evening  by  an  exhibition 
of  the  manner  in  which  bareback  riders  were 

117 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

taught  to  ride."  Then  a  tremendous  crane  was 
fastened  to  the  great  center  pole  of  the  tent  in 
such  a  manner  that  it  would  swing  around  in  a 
circle  the  size  of  the  circus-ring.  A  steady 
old  horse,  a  very  patriarch  of  ring  horses,  was 
brought  in,  and  some  one  was  selected  from  the 
audience  to  ride  him.  Now  it  so  happened  that 
John's  eldest  hopeful,  a  boy  about  twelve  years 
of  age,  was  the  one  to  volunteer,  and  to  scram- 
ble upon  the  horse's  back  like  a  young  monkey. 
A  long  strap  with  a  stout  belt  attached  dangled 
from  the  end  of  the  crane,  and  the  belt  was 
buckled  securely  about  the  boy's  waist,  and  the 
word  given  to  start.  So  far  so  good.  He  sat  his 
steed  bravely,  and  the  horse  cantered  around 
the  ring  in  the  easy  rocking  motion  peculiar  to 
circus  horses,  who  learn  to  move  like  machines. 
"  Now  stand  up,"  ordered  the  ringmaster,  and 
John,  Jr.,  essayed  to  do  so,  to  find  himself  a 
moment  later  dangling  in  midair  like  a  big- 
spider  from  its  «reb.  legs  and  arms  flying 
wildly  about  in   search  of  something  to  grasp 

118 


POKEY    IS    SWALLOWED    UP 

as  the  old  horse  still  plodded  staidly  along 
beneath  him,  although  just  out  of  reach  of  those 
wildly  gesticulating  arms  and  legs,  while  the 
audience  howled  with  laughter.  Around  went 
the  horse,  and  just  above  him  moved  the  crane 
at  the  same  speed,  but  land  upon  that  beast 
again  John,  Jr.,  could  not. 

"  Lewis,  if  you  do  not  take  me  home  I  shall 
certainly  die  of  laughter,"  said  poor  grandma 
to  her  son,  who  was  so  convulsed  at  the  sight 
before  him  that  he  was  powerless  to  heed  her, 
for  certainly  anything  funnier  than  that  strug- 
gling boy,  who  had  mounted  that  beast  so  con- 
fident of  his  ability  to  ride  him  "  any  old  way," 
as  he  had  confided  to  his  father,  it  would  be 
hard  to  conceive  of.  On  Mr.  Lombard's  left 
sat  Pokey,  laughing  as  she  seldom  laughed  and 
until  she  ached  therefrom.  But  now  John,  Jr., 
grew  desperate,  and  resolved  to  ride  bare-back 
or  die  in  the  attempt.  Ah,  now  he  has  his  feet 
upon  that  broad  back,  and  then  follows  a  wild 
struggle,  only  to  end   in  defeat,  as    John,  Jr., 

119 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

wildly  kicking,  slides  gracefully  over  his 
steed's  tail  and  lands  gently  upon  the  sawdust. 
But  he  was  not  to  monopolize  all  the  excite- 
ment, for  Pokey  had  resolved  to  create  a  little 
on  her  own  account,  and  when  next  Mr.  Lom- 
bard turned  around  to  see  how  she  fared  she 
had  vanished  entirely. 

"  My  soul  and  body,  what  has  become  of  her !" 
he  cried,  in  dismay,  when  a  voice  from  the 
bowels  of  the  earth  answered  : 

"I  slipped  through  when  I  doubled  up  to 
laugh,  and  I  can't  get  back,"  for  the  "  fine 
cushioned  parquet  chairs  "  had  proved  to  be  but 
boards  laid  upon  tiers  and  covered  with  turkey- 
red  cushions,  which  needed  but  a  slight  push  to 
slip  them  into  space.  Pokey,  in  her  excitement, 
had  given  the  push,  and  away  she  went,  cushion 
and  all,  her  exclamations  being  completely 
drowned  in  the  shouts  of  laughter. 

Reaching  down,  Mr.  Lombard  gave  a  "  long 
pull  and  a  strong  pull,"  and  brought  Pokey  to 
light,  none  the  worse  for  her  spill. 

120 


POKEY    IS    SWALLOWED    UP 

"  Look  here,  Miss.  I'm  going  to  tie  a  string 
to  you  in  future,"  said  Mr.  Lombard,  while 
grandma  administered  consolation  in  the  shape 
of  cream  peppermints,  with  which  she  seemed 
provided  upon  all  occasions. 

"  I  don't  see  how  I  ever  did  it,  I'm  sure," 
said  Pokey  solemnly. 

"  No  more  do  I,"  laughed  Mrs.  Lombard. 

When  the  show  came  to  an  end  Mr.  Lombard 
said  : 

"  Now  keep  all  in  a  line  close  behind  me,  and 
then  we  will  not  become  separated  in  this  jam,  for 
the  whole  town  is  turned  loose  I  firmly  believe." 

So  off  they  started,  Hart  in  the  lead,  with 
Mr.  Lombard's  hands  upon  his  shoulders  to 
"  steer  him  straight,"  Grandma,  Mrs.  Lombard, 
Denise,  and  Pokey,  as  usual,  at  the  end.  They 
had  just  reached  the  exit,  when  Denise  turned 
to  speak  to  Pokey,  when  lo,  and  behold,  Pokey 
had  again  disappeared. 

"  Papa,  mamma,  grandma !"  she  screamed, 
"  Pokey's  gone  again." 

121 


DENIS  E    AND    NED    T  OODLES 

They  would  have  stopped  could  they  have 
done  so,  but  who  cau  check  the  outpouring  of  a 
circus  crowd?  Willy-nilly  they  were  swept 
out  into  the  moonlight. 

"  Oh,  what  can  have  happened  to  her  now," 
wailed  Denise.  "  How  could  she  get  lost  in  just 
that  little  time  ?" 

"  Don't  be  alarmed,  dearie,"  said  mamma. 
"  Papa  and  I  will  go  right  back  the  moment  we 
can  get  through  the  crowd,  and  will  surely  find 
her." 

Placing  grandma  and  the  two  children  in  the 
waiting  hack,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lombard  made 
their  way  back  into  the  rapidly  emptying  tent , 
and  had  hardly  proceeded  twenty  feet  when 
they  came  upon  Pokey,  covered  with  dirt  and 
sawdust. 

"  What  under  the  sun  has  happened  ?"  de- 
manded Mr.  Lombard. 

"Oh,  that  old  stump!"  answered  Pokey  in 
tones  of  intense  disgust.  "Just  look  at  it,  and 
the  mess  I'm  in !"  and  she  gave  an  impatient  kick 

122 


POKEY    IS    SWALLOWED    UP 

at  a  small  stump  which  showed  about  three 
inches  above  the  ground  close  to  the  bottom 
row  of  seats.  "  I  was  walking  right  along 
close  behind  Denise,  when  I  stubbed  my  toe  on 
that  hateful  old  thing  and  down  I  went,  flat  on 
my  face,  and  before  I  could  get  up  I  guess  a 
hundred  people  walked  right  over  me.  I 
thought  they'd  kill  me,  and  I  couldn't  get  up  or 
stir.  So  I  rolled  over  till  I  was  in  under  the 
seats,  and  lay  there  till  the  people  got  by.  And 
just  look  what  a  sight  I  am  !" 

"  Pokey,  my  girl,  you  are  altogether  too  much 
given  to  stretching  at  length  upon  mother 
earth,  and  after  this  I  must  beg  you  to  keep 
right  end  up,  if  you  wish  to  avoid  giving  the 
entire  family  nervous  prostration.  But  consid- 
ering that  no  bones  are  broken,  and  you  are  not 
ground  to  fine  powder,  I'll  forgive  you  this 
time,"  said  Mr.  Lombard,  as  he  scrubbed  her  off 
with  his  pocket-handkerchief. 


123 


CHAPTER  X 

TROUBLES    NEVER    COME   SINGLY 

""XTTTE    have   waited   for    Pokey's   arrival 

W  W  before  making  our  first  visit  to  the 
'  Chapel '  this  year,"  said  Mrs.  Lom- 
bard, when  all  were  seated  at  the  dinner-table 
at  one  o'clock  on  Sunday. 

"  Haven't  you  been  up  there  at  all  this  year?" 
she  asked,  for  it  was  one  of  her  favorite  spots. 

"  No ;  but  John  finished  putting  it  in  order 
yesterday  afternoon  and  we  will  all  go  up  at 
about  three  o'clock. 

"  Oh,  splendid  !"  cried  Denise.  "  I've  got  the 
loveliest  book  for  you  to  read,  Pokey,  and  I'll 
take  dear  old  Tan  and  Ned.  Tan  can  go  up  the 
hill  as  easy  as  can  be." 

Before  long  the  whole  party  set  out  for  the 
124 


TROUBLES   NEVER  COME  SINGLY 

beautiful  little  woodland  retreat  which  went  by 
the  name  of  the  Chapel  because,  during  the 
summer  the  family  spent  nearly  every  Sunday 
afternoon  there,  resting  in  the  hammocks,  in  the 
comfortable  rustic  seats,  or  stretched  at  length 
upon  the  soft  moss.  Plenty  of  cushions  were 
always  carried,  and  a  more  restful,  soothing 
spot  it  would  have  been  hard  to  find.  The 
path  led  through  the  fields  up  the  hill  and  to 
the  woods'  edge,  and  just  within  it,  where 
the  view  of  the  river  was  most  charming, 
the  seats  had  been  built.  But  between  the 
previous  late  autumn  days  and  this  warm 
July  one,  something  else  had  been  built,  too, 
although  the  owner  of  the  property  little 
suspected  that  squatters  had  taken  possession 
of  a  portion  of  this  land.  Possibly  he  would 
never  have  made  the  discovery  at  all,  had  not 
his  daughter  and  her  pets  brought  it  about. 
All  were  toiling  up  the  hill,  burdened  with 
their  pet  cushions,  books,  etc.,  with  Denise 
in   the  lead,   Tan    on   one  side   of   her,   and 


DEMISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

Ned  on  the  other.  She  had  thrown  an  arm 
across  each  neck,  and  was  saying,  "  Now  '  hay- 
foot,  straw-foot '  "  to  teach  them  to  keep  in  step. 
Not  far  behind  came  Pokey  upon  "  Mrs. 
Mamma's"  arm,  for  Pokey  had  not  had  time  to 
get  her  climbing  wind  yet,  and  the  hill  made 
her  pant.  Grandma  was  assisted  by  papa's 
arm,  and  all  were  "  making  haste  slowly. " 

"  Hay-foot !  Straw-foot !  Hay-foot !  S-t- 
r-a-w — Ohw-w-w-w-w  !!•!!!"  "  Baa-a-a-a-a-a!" 
and  a  screeching  neigh !  Then  pandemo- 
nium reigned  for  a  few  moments,  for  the 
"  straw-foot "  no,  feet,  three  of  them !  had 
been  planted  fairly  and  squarely  into  a  ground- 
hornet's  nest,  and,  in  far  less  time  than  it  takes 
to  tell  about  it,  these  "  three  musketeers  "  wore 
vellow  and  brown  uniforms,  for  the  hornets  lit- 
erally  covered  them  as  a  garment.  Mr.  Lom- 
bard rushed  to  Denise's  rescue,  or  there  is  no 
telling  what  her  fate  would  have  been,  shouting 
to  the  others  as  he  ran  to  fly  for  their  lives. 
Ned  did  not  wait  to  be  told,  but  tore  down  the 

126 


TROUBLES   NEVER  COME  SINGLY 

hill  as  though  all  the  demons  from  the  lower 
regions  had  attacked  him,  while  poor,  stiff  old 
Tan  forgot  all  his  stiffness  and  fled  for  "  home 
and  peace  "  like  any  kid.  But  Mr.  Lombard 
found  his  task  no  easy  one,  for  the  enraged 
hornets  were  venting  their  wrath  upon  poor 
little  Denise,  and  he  had  actually  to  scrape 
them  from  her  legs  with  a  stick,  only  to  find 
them  swarm  upon  the  next  unprotected  spots 
and  upon  himself.  At  last,  in  desperation,  he 
rolled  her  in  a  rug  he  had  brought  with  him, 
and  tore  down  the  hill,  mamma  having  fled  at 
the  first  alarm  to  send  John  to  his  assistance. 

If  you  have  ever  been  stung  by  even  one 
hornet,  you  will  know  just  about  a  one-hun- 
dredth part  of  what  Denise  was  enduring  then, 
for  some  of  the  hornets  were  still  on  her  and 
Mr.  Lombard. 

John  now  came  hurrying  up,  and,  taking 
Denise  from  her  father's  arms,  fled  for  home, 
leaving  Mr.  Lombard  to  dispose  of  his  little 
enemies. 

9— Denise.  1VJ 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

For  a  few  hours  there  were  lively  scenes 
enacted  in  that  home,  for  while  Mrs.  Lombard 
and  grandma,  with  Eliza  the  cook,  and  Mary  the 
maid,  to  help,  administered  all  manner  of  home 
remedies  to  the  sufferers,  John,  mounted  upon 
Flash,  rushed  for  the  doctor,  and  Pokey  sat 
down  and  quietly  sobbed  in  one  corner. 

She  had  not  been  stung,  but  was  filled  with 
anxiety  for  Denise,  and  heart-broken  to  see  her 
suffer  as  she  was  suffering. 

Dr.  Swift  was  as  good  as  his  name,  and  came 
with  all  haste  to  give  relief,  but  it  was  many 
days  before  Denise  could  leave  her  room,  and 
Pokey  was  her  greatest  comfort,  for  the  dear 
child  cared  for  her  as  she  used  to  care  for  the 
invalid  dolls.  But  before  Denise  could  get  about 
again  upon  those  poor  swollen  legs,  something- 
else  happened  which  almost  reconciled  the 
family  to  her  having  been  so  severely  stung 
that  she  was  confined  to  her  room. 

Ned  and  Tan  were  not  much  the  worse  foi 
their  experience,  for  their  hair  had  been  a  pro 

128 


TROUBLES   NEVER   COME  S  I  N  G  LY 

tection,  and  a  vigorous  rolling  in  the  dusty  road 
had  produced  a  wonderfully  pacifying  effect  upon 
those  rampant  insects.  After  he  had  done  all  he 
could  for  the  family,  John  turned  his  attention 
to  the  pets,  and  had  just  made  Tan  comfortable 
and  begun  upon  Ned  when  he  noticed  a  man 
standing  by  the  fence  and  looking  at  the  pony 
as  he  brushed  him  and  rubbed  ointment  where 
the  stings  were  worst.  John  gave  a  friendly 
nod,  and  said :  "  It's  lively  work  we've  been 
havin'  these  past  two  hours !" 

"What's  happened?"  asked  the  man. 

John  related  the  story,  embellishing  it,  till 
the  man  might  have  thought  that  Denise  had 
retired  in  a  garment  made  of  hornets. 

"  Fine  little  beast,  that,"  said  the  man  pres- 
ently. 

"  You  niver  saw  the  loike  of  him  in  all  your 
loife !"  said  John  proudly. 

"  What  will  you  take  for  him  ?" 

"  What'll  I  take  for  him,  is  it,  ye're  askin' ? 
Faith  he's  not  mine  to  sell,  as  ye  well  know, 

129 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

but  ye'd  better  not  be  askin'  the  master  that 
same." 

"  What's  the  boss's  name  ?" 

"  What's  that  to  you  ?"  demanded  Joha  with 
some  asperity,  for  he  was  beginning  to  dislike 
the  man. 

"  Say,  I  know  a  man  who'll  give  a  cool  two- 
fifty  for  him  and  never  wink." 

"  Well,  he  may  save  his  offer,  thin,  for  the 
boss  paid  three-fifty  for  him  not  two  year  ago, 
and  wouldn't  sell  him  for  twice  that,  and  don't 
you  forgit  it  aither,  me  son." 

"  Want  ter  make  a  deal  ?  You  git  him  to 
sell  the  little  horse  to  my  man  for  what  he  paid 
fer  him,  an'  it'll  mean  a  fifty  for  you." 

But  this  was  too  much.  "  Who  the  divvil 
are  ye,  thin,  I'd  loike  to  know  ?  Get  out  av 
this,  an'  if  I  catch  ye  about  the  place  with  yer 
blackguard  offers  I'll  call  the  constable  for  ye 
as  sure  as  iver  me  name's  John  Noonan,"  and 
John  advanced  toward  the  fence  with  ire  in  his 
eyes. 

130 


TROUBLES  NEVER  COME  SINGLY 

"  Did  iver  ye  listen  to  sooch  chake  as  that, 
me  foin  boy  ?"  he  asked  his  small  charge. 
"  Don't  ye  let  it  worry  ye  heart,  me  soon ;  it's  not 
goin'  to  be  sold  out  of  this  home  ye  are !  Not 
fer  no  money !" 

On  Monday  the  circus  gave  another  perform- 
ance, and  after  that,  in  the  evening,  crossed  the 
river  by  special  arrangement  with  the  ferry-boat 
and  went  upon  its  way. 

As  Pokey  never  drove  Ned,  he  was  not  used 
at  all  on  Monday,  and  at  eight  o'clock  had  been 
locked  in  his  little  stable  by  John,  and  left,  as 
usual,  to  his  dream3. 

It  was  John's  custom  to  come  early  to  his 
work,  his  own  home  being  but  a  short  walk 
across  the  fields,  and  six  o'clock  usually  found 
him  at  the  stable-door,  to  be  greeted  with  wel- 
coming neighs  by  the  horses,  which  had  learned 
to  love  him,  and  by  Denise's  pets,  who  found  in 
John  a  very  faithful  attendant.  After  opening  up 
the  big  stable  he  went  over  to  the  "  Birds'  Nest," 
and  was  surprised  to  find  the  door  unlocked. 

131 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

"Now  who's  been  that  careless,  I  wonder," 
lie  muttered. 

Then,  entering,  he  wondered  not  to  hear  Ned's 
morning  greeting.  Filled  with  an  unaccounta- 
ble misgiving,  he  hurried  across  the  floor  and 
looked  over  the  top  of  the  door  of  the  night- 
stall,  but  Ned  was  gone  ! 

But  even  then  the  true  situation  did  not  dawn 
upon  him,  and  he  hurried  out  to  look  all  about 
the  grounds  and  in  every  place  Ned  could  pos- 
sibly have  gone.  But  no  Ned  was  to  be  found, 
and  now,  thoroughly  alarmed,  he  went  to  the 
kitchen  to  ask  Eliza,  who  was  just  lighting  her 
morning  fire,  to  call  Mr.  Lombard. 

"Whatever  has  happened  you?"  demanded 
Eliza,  looking  up  from  her  range.  "Ye  look 
like  ye'd  seen  a  ghost." 

"The  little  horse  is  gone!  I've  hunted  the 
place  for  him  and  can  find  no  trace  of  him," 
answered  John,  in  a  distressed  voice. 

"  The  Lord  save  us  !  What  will  that  dear 
child  do  ?"  cried  Eliza  in  dismay. 

132 


TROUBLES   NEVER  COME  SINGLY 

"  Go  quick  and  call  master,"  was  John's 
answer. 

"  Don't  let  this  get  to  Miss  Denise's  ears  if  it 
can  possibly  be  helped,"  said  Mr.  Lombard 
when  he  and  John  had  returned  from  a  fruit- 
less search.  "  There  may  be  some  foundation 
for  your  suspicion  regarding  that  man  who 
spoke  to  you  on  Sunday,  and,  coupled  with  what 
Denise  has  told  me  about  the  circus-manager's 
questions,  I  am  forced  to  admit  that  it  does 
not  look  well.  Go  up  to  the  village  and  ask 
Mr.  Stevens  to  come  to  me  as  quickly  and  as 
quietly  as  possible,  for  this  case  needs  both  a 
lawyer  and  detectives.  I  will  warn  the  others 
to  keep  silent,"  and  with  a  very  troubled  face 
Mr.  Lombard  entered  the  house. 

But  all  that  clay  passed,  and  still  others, 
without  revealing  a  trace  of  Ned.  Inquiries 
set  afoot  came  to  naught.  The  circus  had  left 
at  one  a.  m.,  but  Ned  had  not  been  among  the 
ponies.  If  he  were  really  stolen,  as  Mr.  Lom- 
bard was  reluctantly  compelled  to  believe,  for 
-  i33 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

that  wise  little  beast  was  not  going  to  lose  him- 
self or  stay  away  from  home  voluntarily,  those 
who  tried  to  get  him  away  must  have  used  great 
skill,  for  everybody  in  that  town  knew  him. 

The  search  had  been  on  foot  for  three  days 
when  the  thunderbolt  fell  from  the  sky,  dropped 
by  Hart. 

Mrs.  Lombard,  Denise,  and  Pokey  were  sit- 
ting in  the  former's  pleasant  room  on  Thursday 
morning  when  Hart  called  to  Mrs.  Lombard 
from  the  bottom  of  the  stairs,  "  Please  may  I 
speak  with  you  a  second  ?" 

Mrs.  Lombard  hastened  into  the  hall,  for  she 
was  fearful  that  the  message  pertained  to  Ned, 
and,  even  though  the  voice  vibrated  with  hope, 
she  did  not  wish  it  to  be  heard  by  Denise  unless 
it  was  the  one  message  she  longed  for.  Hart 
had  scoured  the  country  on  Pinto,  but  thus  far 
to  no  purpose.  Half-way  down  the  stairs  Hart 
met  her,  and  whispered,  as  he  supposed,  in  a 
low  voice  :  "  They  think  they  have  found  tracks 
of  him  because  that  man  who  spoke  to  John 

J34 


TROUBLES  NEVER  COME  SINGLY 

was  seen  away  up  on  Hook  Mountain,  and  had 
come  across  the  river  in  a  great  big  boat,  big 
enough  to  carry  Ned  over  in  !     And — " 

"  Hush  !"  whispered  Mrs.  Lombard,  holding 
up  a  warning  finger,  but  it  was  too  late.  Over 
the  railing  hung  a  white  little  face,  and  a  pair 
of  wild  eyes  looked  beseechingly  at  her  as  De- 
nise  demanded :  "  What  do  you  mean  ?  Ned 
found  ?  Traces  of  Ned  ?  Where  is  he  ?  What 
has  happened  ?     Tell  me  right  off." 


CHAPTER  XI 

A    TIMELY    RESCUE 

FEELING  that  a  real  tragedy  had  come 
into  the  little  girl's  life,  as  great  as  per- 
haps she  would  ever  experience,  for  Mrs. 
Lombard  fully  realized  how  strong  was  the  tie 
between  Denise  and  this  well-beloved  pet,  and 
also  realizing  that  which,  unhappily,  few  do  re- 
alize, that  childhood's  trials  and  sorrows  are  fully 
as  keen  for  the  time  being  as  the  trials  and  sor- 
rows which  visit  us  later  in  life,  although, 
blessed  provision  of  providence,  less  enduring. 
Had  not  a  beneficent  Father  so  ordained  it  there 
would  be  no  childhood,  for  we  should  be  old  men 
and  women  while  still  in  our  teens. 

Stepping  quickly  to  her  little  daughter's  side, 
Mrs.  Lombard  put  her  arm  about  her  and  said, 

136 


A    TIMELY    RESCUE 

"Come  into  the  sitting-room,  darling,  and  let 
mother  tell  you  all  about  it.  I  had  thought  to 
spare  you  the  anxiety,  for  we  are  confident  that 
all  will  end  well,  but  now  that  you  have  heard 
so  much  you  would  better  know  the  truth." 

Trembling  from  sympathy,  Pokey  had  drawn 
near  and  taken  one  of  Denise's  hands,  and  now 
stood  beside  her  "  pooring  "  it  and  looking  into 
her  eyes  as  though  beseeching  her  not  to  be 
quite  heartbroken.  Hart,  with  contrition 
stamped  upon  his  handsome,  boyish  face,  had 
crept  up  the  stairs,  and  was  looking  in  at  the 
door.  Drawing  Denise  beside  her  upon  the 
couch,  Mrs.  Lombard  said  in  her  calm,  soothing 
voice : 

"  When  John  went  to  the  stable  Monday 
morning  Ned  was  not  there.  At  first  we  thought 
that  he  had  managed  to  run  away,  but  later  we 
were  convinced  that  he  could  not  have  gone  vol- 
untarily, and  a  thorough,  search  has  been  insti- 
tuted. Thus  far  it  has  been  fruitless,  but  Hart 
has  just  reported   that  one  of  the    detectives 

137 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

whom  papa  has  pressed  into  service  has  seen 
one  of  the  men  whom  we  now  know  to  have 
been  connected  with  the  circus,  and  has  further 
learned  that  which  surprises  us  not  a  little,  that 
Ned  once  belonged  to  another  branch  of  this  very 
circus.  Indeed,  that  he  and  Sinbad,  the  big 
black  horse  with  whom  he  so  promptly  renewed 
his  acquaintance,  were  formerly  ring  com- 
panions, and  performed  tricks  together.  All 
this  papa's  men  have  discovered,  and  also  that 
about  a  year  before  Ned  became  yours,  the 
circus  then  being  in  financial  straits,  Ned  was 
sold,  very  much  to  the  regret  of  the  proprietor. 
When  more  prosperous  days  returned,  they  tried 
to  find  him,  but  could  not,  and  not  until  they 
chanced  to  come  to  Springdale  did  they  ever  see 
their  clever  little  trick  pony  again.  Then  this 
manager  recognized  him  from  the  odd  mark  upon 
his  right  temple,  and  sent  a  man  down  to  see  if 
he  could  buy  him  back  again,  but  John  sent  him 
to  the  right-about  with  a  word  of  advice.  Then 
Ned  vanished,  and,  naturally,  our  first  thought 

138 


A    TIMELY    RESCUE 

flew  to  the  circus.  But  Ned  is  not  with  it,  nor 
yet  with  the  main  body  of  it,  for  papa  has  sent 
everywhere.  If  they  have  taken  him  they  have 
surely  hidden  him  somewhere  till  the  excite- 
ment shall  pass,  and  they  think  it  safe  to  bring 
him  upon  the  scene  far  from  this  section  of  the 
country.  There,  my  dear  little  girl,  is  all  the 
truth,  and  you  understand  better  than  any  one 
else  can,  how  very  sorry  I  am  to  be  forced  to  tell 
it  to  you,"  and  Mrs.  Lombard  held  Denise  close 
to  her  and  tenderly  kissed  her  forehead. 

Denise  had  not  opened  her  lips  but  had 
grown  whiter  and  whiter  as  the  story  was 
told.  The  hand  which  lay  in  Pokey's  was 
icy,  and  the  eyes,  which  had  never  once  been 
removed  from  her  mother's  face  while  she 
was  speaking,  had  the  look  of  a  terrified 
animal's. 

Not  a  sound  was  heard  in  that  room  for  a  few 
moments  save  the  ticking  of  the  little  clock  upon 
the  mantel,  and  then  Denise  asked  in  a  strange, 
hard  little  voice : 

139 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

"  You  say  that  the  man  was  seen  up  near 
Hook  Mountain  ?" 

"  Yes  !  "  burst  in  Hart.  "  He  had  rowed 
across  the  river,  they  think,  and  was  prowling 
along  the  shore  in  a  great  big  boat.  Patsy 
Murphy  was  out  on  the  river  fishing  and  saw 
him,  and  told  Mr.  Stevens  when  he  got  back." 

"  Mamma,  could  he  take  Ned  in  a  boat  ? " 
asked  Denise. 

"  He  might  do  so  if  the  boat  were  a  very  large 
one  and  Ned  so  tied  that  he  could  not  struggle." 

"  Hart,"  she  cried  suddenly,  the  big  brown 
eyes  filling  with  a  fire  which  boded  ill  for  any 
one  minded  to  take  Ned  from  her,  "  do  you 
remember  that  wild  little  path  we  once  came 
upon  on  Hook  Mountain  when  you  and  I  were 
drying  to  find  a  short  cut  over  to  the  lake  one 
day  ?  It  led  around  the  curve  of  the  mountain, 
and  seemed  to  end,  but  when  we  forced  our  way 
through  the  underbrush  it  led  clown  to  an  old 
brick-yard  dock.  We  said  at  the  time  that  it 
would  be  a  splendid  place  to  play  Captain  Kidd 

140 


A    TIMELY    RESCUE 

and  bury  a  treasure,  for  nobody  would  ever 
think  of  scrambling  way  round  there." 

"  Of  course  I  remember,"  cried  Hart,  catch- 
ing her  excitement,  although  as  yet  he  hardly 
knew  why. 

"  Have  you  hunted  there  ?" 

"No!  I  never  once  thought  of  that  place." 

"  Please  go  quick,  and  take  Sailor.  Give  him 
something  of  Ned's  to  smell  of  and  then  say : 
'  Find  Ned,  Sailor ;  find  him !'  and  he  will 
know  just  what  you  mean,  because  that  is  what 
I  always  say  to  him  when  he  and  Ned  and  Tan 
and  I  play  hide-and-seek,  as  we  often  do  when 
we  are  alone.  I  would  go,  too,  but  somehow  I 
don't  feel  very  well,  and  I — guess — I'll — lie — " 
and  the  voice  dwindled  off  into  nothingness,  as 
poor  little  nearly-heartbroken  Denise  drew  a 
long  sigh  and  quietly  dropped  into  her  mother's 
arms,  for  the  time  being  oblivious  of  her  loss 
and  grief. 

Raising  her  hand  in  warning  to  the  terri- 
fied children,  Mrs.  Lombard  laid  the  limp  little 

74i 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

gure  upon  the  couch,  and  began  administering 
restoratives  with  grandma,  who,  at  the  first  sign 
of  distress,  had  appeared  upon  the  scene  to 
help.  Pokey  promptly  sat  down  at  the  foot  of 
the  couch  and,  taking  Denise's  feet  in  her  arms, 
proceeded  to  bedew  them  with  tears,  begging 
them  piteously  to  "  oh,  please  get  better  right 
off,  and  she  would  go  herself  to  find  Ned  for 
them." 

Hart  fled,  dashing  from  his  eyes  the  tears 
that  had  sought  to  disgrace  him,  and  muttering 
an  excited,  "  Dod  blasticate  that  circus !  Wish 
the  hanged  old  thing  had  never  showed  up  in 
Springdale  !  I'll  go  up  to  that  place  before 
I've  lived  another  minute,  and  if  Ned  is  any- 
where in  the  mountain,  I'll  have  him  or  bust 
the  whole  shebang.  Wish  I  could  catch  that 
man,  I'd  smash  his  head  for  him  sure  as  guns  I 
I'd  _  I'd  _  Why  didn't  we  think  of  Sailor 
before  !  That  girl's  got  the  longest  head  for  a 
girl,  and  if  Pinto  doesn't  just  hustle  this  time  I" 
and  with  his  thoughts  upon   the  gallop,  Hart 

142 


A    TIMELY     RESCUE 

rushed  across  the  lawn,  calling  to  Sailor,  who 
was  always  ready  to  follow,  and  five  minutes 
later  was  tearing  up  the  road  toward  Hook 
Mountain  with  Sailor  bounding  on  ahead  of 
him. 

Meantime  Denise  had  come  to  her  senses,  but 
was  limp  as  a  little  rag,  for  she  had  not  yet 
recovered  from  the  effects  of  her  terrible  stings, 
and  the  news  had  been  as  a  thunderbolt  to  her. 
But  Mrs.  Lombard  was  a  wise  nurse,  and  pres- 
ently had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  her  patient 
succumb  to  the  gentle  influence  of  hyoscyamus, 
and  slip  away  into  dreamland.  Then,  motion- 
ing to  Pokey  to  leave  the  room,  she  drew  the 
shades,  and  followed  her,  saying  to  the  dis- 
tressed girl : 

"Something  tells  me  that  Ned  will  come 
home  to-day,  and  that  Hart  and  Sailor  will  find 
him.  So  run  out  into  the  sunshine  and  keep  a 
sharp  watch,  dearie,  and  be  ready  to  report  at 
the  first  sign  of  good  news." 

Pokey,  with  Beauty  Buttons  close  upon  her 

!  0-  Denis*.  143 


DENISE   AND    NED   TOODLES 

heels,  went  downstairs,  and  out  into  the 
grounds,  making  her  way  from  force  of  habit 
to  the  Birds'  Nest.  But  the  place  was  so  de- 
serted and  silent  that  she  gave  a  little  shiver 
and  turned  away  from  it,  to  wander  aimlessly 
about  with  her  thoughts  filled  with  Denise  and 
Ned.  Hardly  knowing  what  she  did,  she  walked 
out  of  the  grounds  and  turned  toward  the  road 
which  Hart  had  so  lately  galloped  over,  and 
began  walking  along  it. 

Meanwhile  Hart  had  passed  through  the 
village,  and  was  galloping  toward  Hook 
Mountain.  Before  long  he  came  to  the  point 
at  which  the  main  road  turned  aside  to  wind  its 
way  by  a  circuitous  route  over  the  mountain, 
and  this  was  the  only  way  known  to  the  ordi- 
nary traveler  to  reach  the  fairy -like  lake  which 
lay  in  the  lap  of  the  mountain.  But  not  so  to 
the  children,  who  had  scoured  the  country  for 
miles  in  every  direction.  A  little  path  which 
seemed  to  end  at  the  edge  of  an  adjoining  field 
did   not   end   there  at  all,   but  made  its  way 

144 


A    TIMELY     RESCUE 

through  the  undergrowth,  up,  down,  in,  and  out 
until  it  finally  scrambled  over  to  the  other  side 
of  the  steep  cliff,  at  whose  base  years  before  a 
small  dock  had  been  built  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  a  long-since-dismantled  brick-yard. 
Stopping  at  the  entrance  to  the  path,  Hart 
called  Sailor  to  him  and,  taking  from  under  his 
arm  the  saddle-cloth  of  Ned's  saddle,  said  to 
the  dog:  "Here,  old  boy,  see  this?  Smell  it 
good,  it's  Ned's,  Ned's !  Find  him,  Sailor,  find 
him  !     That's  a  good  dog !" 

If  ever  an  animal's  eyes  spoke,  Sailor's  did 
then,  for,  giving  Hart  one  comprehensive  glance 
from  those  big  brown  eyes,  so  full  of  love  and 
faith,  he  began  to  bark  and  caper  about  like  a 
puppy.  Then  Hart  started  Pinto  forward,  and 
he  and  Sailor  began  their  search.  On  and  on 
they  went,  furlong  after  furlong  measured  off 
behind  them,  brushed  by  overhanging  boughs, 
stumbling  through  the  tangled  undergrowth, 
and  repeatedly  stopping  to  call  and  listen ; 
Hart  telling  Sailor  to  bark  for  Ned,  and  the 

i45 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

deep  bark  waking  the  echoes  of  the  silent 
woods.  As  though  he  understood  what  they 
were  doing,  Pinto,  too,  would  often  join  in  with 
a  loud  neigh,  but  no  responsive  neigh  could  be 
heard.  Nearly  three  hours  had  slipped  away 
since  Hart  left  Mrs.  Lombard,  and  the  boy  was 
beginning  to  lose  hojDe,  when  they  came  upon 
the  old  dock,  and  Sailor  uttered  a  low  growl,  as, 
with  hair  bristling,  he  walked  toward  it  in  that 
peculiar  manner  a  Newfoundland  dog  advances 
upon  his  enemy — a  sort  of  "  Come  on  and 
face  me  fairly  and  squarely  "  air.  Hart  drew 
rein  and  called,  while  down  his  boyish  spine 
crept  a  wee  bit  of  a  chill,  for  he  was  far  from 
home,  and  entirely  defenseless.  But  there  was 
no  sign  of  living  thing,  and,  thinking  that 
Sailor  must  have  been  mistaken,  Hart  called  to 
him,  and  went  on  into  the  wood  again.  Had 
he  been  able  to  see  the  lower  side  of  the  old 
dock  he  might  have  discovered  a  large  flat- 
bottomed  boat  tied  close  under  an  overhang- 
ing shed  of  it,  while,  from  beneath  the  rickety 

146 


A    TIMELY     RESCUE 

boards  peered  a  pair  of  steely  eyes  which 
watched  his  every  movement.  Hart  was  indeed 
in  greater  peril  than  he  suspected,  for  this  man 
would  be  the  richer  by  a  considerable  sum  of 
money  if  he  carried  out  successfully  the  das- 
tardly scheme  of  the  one  who  offered  the  money 
to  him,  and  to  sit  hidden  there  and  see  his 
plans  balked  before  his  very  eyes,  unless  he 
resorted  to  far  worse  villainy  than  that  already 
afoot,  was  a  sore  temptation. 

With  hair  still  bristling,  and  an  occasional 
admonitory  growl,  Sailor  stalked  very  slowly 
after  Hart,  looking  back  from  time  to  time  to 
guard  against  trouble  from  the  rear.  They 
reached  the  point  where  the  path  wound  its 
way  up  the  jagged  rocks,  and  where  they  had 
been  forced  to  pause  when  he  and  Denise 
explored  it  before,  and  a  feeling  of  despair  began 
to  settle  upon  him,  for  it  seemed  utterly  hope- 
less to  look  further.  Sailor  stood  panting  beside 
Pinto,  evidently  trying  to  ask,  What  next? 
when  suddenly  he  supplied  the  answer  himself 

147 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

for,  putting  his  head  close  to  the  ground,  he  gave 
one  long  sniff,  and  then  uttered  a  joyous  bark 
and  dashed  into  the  woods.  As  it  was  almost 
impossible  for  Pinto  to  make  way  through  the 
tangle,  Hart  slipped  from  his  back,  and  tore 
after  Sailor.  Just  as  he  did  so,  Sailor  barked 
again,  and  far  off  in  the  distance  a  faint  whin- 
ny answered  him.  "  Gee  whillikens,  Christ- 
mas !  If  that  ain't  Ned's  whinny,  I'm  a  blue- 
fish  !"  shouted  Hart,  and  the  next  moment  he 
almost  tumbled  into  a  little  dell  at  the  bottom 
of  which  a  sight  greeted  him  that  made  him 
throw  his  cap  into  the  air  and  simply  yell.  In 
a  little  cleared  space,  firmly  tied  to  a  tree,  a 
dirty  old  blanket  strapped  upon  him,  and  the 
remains  of  his  last  meal  scattered  upon  the 
ground  near  him,  stood  little  Ned,  with  Sailor 
licking  his  velvety  nose  and  whining  over  him 
as  though  he  were  a  lost  puppy.  The  next 
second  Hart  had  his  arms  around  Ned's  neck, 
laughing,  talking,  asking  questions  as  though 
he  were  speaking  to  a  human  being  who  could 

148 


A    TIMELY     RESCUE 

answer  if  he  only  would.  And  Ned  very  nearly 
did,  for  the  little  fellow's  joy  was  pathetic  to 
witness.  When  Hart  had  somewhat  calmed 
down,  he  discovered  how  Ned  had  been  led  into 
his  hiding-place,  for  at  the  other  side  of  it  from 
the  one  he  had  entered  there  were  distinct 
traces  of  hoof-marks,  and  Hart  lost  not  a  second 
more  in  untying  the  rope  which  held  him  and 
leading  him  out  that  way.  This  path  came 
out  upon  the  wood-path  somewhat  below  the 
point  where  Pinto  had  been  waiting,  but,  at 
Hart's  call,  Pinto  came  picking  his  way  down 
the  path  and  was  greeted  by  his  old  friend  with 
a  joyous  neigh.  They  had  not  gone  far  when 
Sailor  gave  signs  of  anger,  and,  without  a  mo- 
ment's warning,  sprang  upon  a  man  who  sud- 
denly barred  their  progress. 


149 


CHAPTER  XII 

JOY    TURNS    POKEY    DAFT 

HAD  not  Sailor  acted  so  promptly,  one 
trembles  to  think  what  might  have 
been  the  outcome  of  Hart's  adventure, 
but  as  the  man  bent  down  to  avoid  the  branches 
when  he  entered  the  pathway,  Sailor  sprang 
upon  him  and  bore  him  to  the  ground,  face 
downwards,  then  planted  both  front  feet 
squarely  upon  the  man's  back  and  held  him 
firmly  by  his  coat-collar,  growling  in  his  ear  : 
"  If  you  know  what  is  well  for  you,  you  won't 
move!" 

"  Guard  him,  Sailor,  guard  him  !"  shouted 
Hart.  "  Hold  him  fast,  good  dog,  and  I'll  send 
some  one  to  you  !"  and,  scrambling  upon  Pinto's 
back  and  leading  Ned  by  his  tattered  rope,  he 

150 


Denise. 

"THE    MAN    BENT    DOWN   TO   AVOID   THE    BRANCHES." 


JOY    TURNS     POKEY    DAFT 

plunged  along  the  path  at  a  pace  fit  to  bring 
destruction  upon  all  three.  But  he  had  no 
thought  of  destruction  just  then,  his  only 
thought  being  to  send  some  one  to  the  noble 
dog's  aid.  He  reached  the  main  road,  and  was 
tearing  along  at  breakneck  speed,  when  he  came 
upon  a  hay-wagon  which  had  just  turned  in 
from  a  roadside  field.  Pulling  up  so  suddenly 
that  he  nearly  fell  over  Pinto's  head,  he  shouted  : 
"Quick  !  Quick  !  Run  up  into  the  woods,  for 
Mr.  Lombard's  Sailor  has  caught  the  man  who 
was  trying  to  steal  Ned  and  is  holding  him 
fast." 

All  Springdale  knew  the  story,  and  the  three 
men  in  the  hay-wagon  tumbled  out  of  it  as  one 
man,  to  run  toward  the  wood-path  as  though 
they  had  Mercury's  wings  upon  their  feet,  while 
Hart,  still  quivering  with  excitement,  again 
pelted  off  toward  home  and  friends.  He  was 
still  rivaling  John  Gilpin  when  a  voice  from 
the  side  of  the  road  called  : 

"  Oh,    Hinkey-Dinkey  !     Hinkey  -  Dinkey  J 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

Where  did  you  find  him  ?  Where  did  you  find 
him  ?"  and  up  bounded  Pokey,  to  plant  herself 
almost  directly  in  his  path,  for  joy  made  her 
reckless.  They  were  on  the  lower  side  of  the 
village,  Pokey  having  walked  and  walked  till 
she  was  weary,  and  then  seated  herself  by  the 
roadside  to  think  things  over.  Hart  slid  off 
Pinto's  back,  and  both  ponies  were  glad  to  rest, 
for  Hart  had  never  given  a  thought  to  time, 
distance,  or  heat  in  his  eagerness  to  reach  home. 
Both  ponies  were  blowing  like  porpoises,  and  for 
once  in  her  life  Pokey  forgot  all  fear  of  Ned  and, 
gathering  his  head  in  her  arms,  proceeded  to  sob 
out  her  joy  upon  his  neck. 

"  I  say,  what  the  dickens  are  you  crying 
about  now  when  we've  got  him?"  demanded 
Hart,  with  a  boy's  usual  disgust  for  tears. 
"  Those  fellows  up  there  will  fix  that.jnan  all 
right  and  Sailor's  a  trump.  Come  on  home,  for 
that's  where  we  want  to  get  Ned  now  just  as 
quick  as  ever  we  can,"  and  he  gave  Pokey's 
sleeve  a  pull. 

15s 


JOY     TURNS     POKEY     D-AFT 

"  I  know  it,"  she  answered,  raising  her  head 
from  Ned's  silky  mane.  "  But  I'm  sort  of  all 
shaky,  I'm  so  happy,  and  please  let  me  lead  Ned 
home.  He's  awful  tired,  and  will  be  glad  to 
walk  the  rest  of  the  way,  and  I  want  to  take 
him  to  Denise,  for  I  couldn't  go  to  find  him,  and 
I  wanted  to  do  something  so  badly." 

"Of  course  you  may  lead  him,  but  I  thought 
you  were  scared  to  death  of  him,"  said  Hart, 
amazed  to  find  that  timid  Pokey,  who  had 
invariably  kept  some  one  between  herself  and 
Ned,  wanted  to  lead  him.  But  on  they  went,  and 
Hart  had  cause  to  be  more  surprised  before  he 
was  less  so,  for  Pokey  hurried  along  the  road, 
Ned  pattering  beside  her,  and  occasionally  tug- 
ging at  the  rope  to  hasten  her  steps  as  he  drew 
nearer  and  nearer  the  dear  home  and  dearer 
little  mistress.  Pokey  did  not  take  time  to  go 
around  by  the  driveway  when  she  reached  the 
grounds,  but  slipped  in  through  a  side  gate,  and 
right  across  the  lawn.  What  happened  next 
will  be  told  presently. 

iS3 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

After  about  an  hour's  sleep,  Denise  awakened 
much  refreshed,  and  Mrs.  Lombard  was  on 
hand  to  say  a  soothing  word  the  moment  her 
eyes  opened.  Then  followed  a  long,  quiet  talk, 
Denise  asking  questions  and  her  mother 
answering  them  with  the  utmost  care  and  infi- 
nite patience. 

"  Where  is  Pokey,  mamma?"  she  asked,  after 
a  little. 

"  I  sent  her  outdoors  to  freshen  up  a  bit,  for 
she  is  much  disturbed  over  this  misfortune. 
She  will  be  in  soon,  I  think,  dear." 

"  Would  you  mind  if  I  went  down  into  the 
library,  mamma?  That  room  always  seems  the 
nicest  one  to  be  in  when  things  trouble  me,  for 
somehow  or  other  they  seem  to  sort  of  get 
straight  there." 

"  Certainly,  we  will  go  down,  darling,  if  you 
think  you  can  do  so,  but  the  poor  legs  are  still 
pretty  stiff." 

"  I  think  I  can  with  your  help." 

"  Then  off  we  go,"  and  Mrs.  Lombard  placed 
154 


JOY    TURNS     POKEY    DAFT 

her  arm  about  Denise's  waist  to  help  her 
down  the  stairs.  In  a  few  moments  they  were 
settled  in  the  big  chair,  Denise  saying,  with  a 
sigh,  as  she  rested  her  weary  little  head  against 
her  mother's  shoulder : 

"  Mamma,  why  is  it  that  I  always  feel  such  a 
sense  of  security  when  you  are  with  me?  Then 
things  always  seem  to  go  so  smoothly,  and  trou- 
bles don't  seem  half  so  hard  to  bear." 

"  I  wish  that  it  lay  within  my  power  to  make 
all  your  pathway  smooth  for  you,  my  darling, 
and  insure  a  future  free  from  trials.  But  that 
cannot  be,  so  I  try  to  make  the  childhood  days 
sweet  and  happy  ones,  that  you  may  carry  with 
you  throughout  your  life  a  beautiful  memory, 
of  which  nothing  can  ever  deprive  you,  and 
which  will  bring  into  the  dark  days  which  you. 
like  all  others,  must  meet,  a  ray  of  sunshine  to 
cheer  and  gladden  you.  Then  the  memory  of 
these  precious  home  hours,  our  little  talks,  and 
confidences,  our  perfect  trust  in  each  other,  will 
come  back  to  you,  and,  I  think,  strengthen  you 

i55 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

to  meet  the  daily  trials  we  must  all  meet,  and 
to  see  liow  you  may  smooth  them  out  for  others 
when  opportunity  arises." 

Mrs.  Lombard  was  stroking  back  the  hair 
from  Denise's  forehead  as  she  talked  to  her, 
and  Denise  was  toying  idly  with  the  ribbons 
upon  her  mother's  gown.  When  Mrs.  Lombard 
finished  speaking  they  sat  silent  for  a  moment 
or  two,  and  then  the  silence  was  broken  in  a 
startling  manner. 

"  Yes,  you  can  do  it  if  you  want  to,  and  you 
just  must  'cause  her  legs  are  too  stiff  for  her  to 
come  to  you.  There?  Now  you  see  you  can, 
just  as  well  as  not!  Now  another!  Another! 
One  more!  Another!  Now  only  two  more — 
and — t-h-e-r-e  you  are!"  and  then  a  clatter  and 
a  scramble  over  the  piazza,  and  in  through  the 
lace  curtains  tore  Pokey  and  Ned  side  by  side, 
one  with  a  cry  of,  "I  had  to  bring  him!  I 
couldn't  wait !"  and  the  other  with  as  joyous  a 
neigh  as  ever  a  horse  gave  voice  to.  Straight 
into  the  library  they  came  pell-mell,  and  straight 

156 


JOY    TURNS    POKEY    DAFT 

into  Denise's  arms,  to  be  laughed  over  and  cried 
over.  For  the  tears  which  had  not  come  at  the 
sorrow,  fell  like  a  refreshing  summer  shower  now, 
and  Denise  never  knew  that  they  were  falling. 

Mrs.  Lombard  and  Denise  had  sprung  to 
their  feet  as  the  funny  pair  entered  the  library, 
and  both  joined  in  the  shout  of  welcome,  and 
now  Pokey,  having  done  her  one  wild,  unbridled 
act,  curled  herself  up  in  a  little  heap  in  the 
middle  of  the  floor  and,  clasping  her  knees  in 
her  arms,  swayed  back  and  forth,  crying  and 
laughing  by  turns  as  she  said : 

"  Hart  found  him  in  the  woods,  and  I  made 
him  scramble  up  the  piazza-steps,  so  we  both 
got  him  !     We  both  got  him,  didn't  we  ?" 

Need  I  tell  you  any  more  ?  Yes,  I  will  tell 
you  how  Beauty  Buttons  carried  the  good  news 
to  papa  when  he  came  home  that  evening.  Of 
course  all  was  excitement  for  a  time,  for  Ned 
was  welcomed  like  a  lost  son,  the  entire  family 
gathering  about  him  as  he  stood  in  the  middle 
of  the  library  with   Denise   hugging  him   as 

II- Denise.  1 57 


DENISE   AND    NED   TOODLES 

though  she  would  never  give  over  doing  so,  and 
every  one  trying  to  find  some  spot  to  stroke,  for 
grandma,  Eliza,  Mary,  and  John  had  rushed  up 
to  the  library  to  rejoice,  eulogize,  and  all  talk 
at  once  of  Ned's  abduction  by  "  that  bad  man," 
and  his  rescue  by  "  this  blessed  boy."  Hart's 
head  was  in  a  fair  way  to  be  turned  hind-side- 
before  with  sheer  conceit,  and  in  future  Ned 
might  be  expected  to  demand  quarters  in  the 
library.  After  the  excitement  had  subsided  a 
little,  John  went  tearing  off  to  the  village  to 
learn  the  fate  of  the  "  bad  man"  and  Sailor,  and 
also  to  telegraph  to  Mr.  Lombard. 

Of  course,  during  all  the  attention  paid  to 
Ned,  Beauty  was  somewhat  overlooked,  but  this 
he  set  about  remedying  himself  by  first  jump- 
ing upon  a  chair,  and  then  upon  Ned's  back, 
where  he  wriggled  about  so  much  that  Ned 
turned  his  head  around  to  hint  at  less  active 
demonstrations  of  joy. 

Finally  Ned  was  taken  to  the  "  Birds'  Nest" 
by  the  children,  Denise  having  speedily  recov- 

158 


JOY    TURNS     POKEY     DAFT 

ered  under  the  stimulating  influence  of  so  much 
happiness.  During  the  afternoon  Beauty  was 
as  fidgety  as  a  flea,  and  kept  running  to  the 
entrance-gate  every  time  a  train  whistled.  As 
six  o'clock  drew  near  he  vanished,  but  was  not 
missed  by  the  family  because  Sailor,  who  had 
just  been  brought  home  by  John,  after  having 
held  his  victim  till  the  men  sent  by  Hart  released 
him  and  led  him  to  the  sheriff's  office,  where 
he  was  promptly  dealt  with,  was  now  the  con- 
quering hero  to  be  worshiped  and  commended. 
As  John's  testimony  was  required  at  the 
sheriff's  office,  he  was  not  on  hand  to  drive  to 
the  station  as  usual  for  Mr.  Lombard,  but  as 
that  gentleman  stepped  from  the  train,  what 
should  he  see  perched  at  the  end  of  the  plat- 
form, but  a  tiny  black-and-tan  dog,  with  both 
ears  cocked  up  expectantly,  and  who,  directly 
he  spied  his  master,  rushed  toward  him  fairly 
squirming  and  wriggling  with  excitement.  Mr. 
Lombard  said  that  he  felt  sure  that  Beauty  was 
trying  to  tell  him  the  good  news. 

i59 


CHAPTEK  XIII 

MISCHIEF 

GOOD-NIGHT,  Sweetheart.  Good-night, 
Pokey,  dear,"  said  Mrs.  Lombard,  as 
she  kissed  the  children  just  before 
departing  a  few  evenings  later  to  attend  a  card- 
party  given  by  one  of  their  neighbors.  The 
children  were  not  to  accompany  them,  and  a 
few  moments  later  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lombard,  with 
grandma,  sweet  and  delightful  to  look  upon, 
arrayed  all  in  soft  gray  china  silk,  with  a  dainty 
little  white  lace  cap  upon  her  snowy  hair,  and 
dainty  lace  at  her  throat,  took  their  seats  in  the 
carriage  and  were  whirled  out  of  the  grounds 
and  down  the  road,  waving  farewells  as  long  as 
they  were  in  sight. 

"  Now   what    shall    we    do   this    evening  ?" 
160 


MISCHIEF 

demanded  Denise,  as  they  ran  back  to  the 
piazza. 

"  Let's  take  a  walk  down  the  road,"  answered 
Pokey. 

"  No,  we  can't  do  that,  because  mamma  does 
not  like  me  to  leave  the  grounds  when  she  goes 
out  in  the  evening." 

"  Then  let's  go  into  the  library  and  get  a  nice 
book  and  read  aloud.  I  saw  one  that  looked 
wonderfully  interesting  when  I  was  looking  in 
there  the  other  day.  It  was  called  '  Ernest 
Hart  on  Mesmerism,'  and  I  want  to  see  what  it 
is  about." 

"  My  goodness !  Why  don't  you  try  to  read 
Greek  and  have  done  with  it  ?  Why,  papa 
would  think  we  were  crazy  if  we  tried  to  read 
those  books.  Besides,  I  don't  think  he  would 
like  to  have  us  take  them.  Whenever  I  want 
to  know  anything  about  such  things  I  ask  him 
and  he  tells  me  all  about  them  in  just  plain  every- 
day language  that  I  can  understand.  I  don't 
believe  that   we   could  make   head   or  tail   of 

161 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

that  book  if  we  took  it.  What  is  mesmerism, 
anyway  ?" 

"  Why, — it's — it's — a  man  who  can  put  peo- 
ple to  sleep  and  make  them  do  things  they 
don't  know  a  thing  about.  When  they  wake 
up  again  they  can't  remember  a  single  thing 
they  have  done,  and — why,  what  are  you 
laughing  about?  I  don't  see  anything  so 
very  funny  in  that,"  for  Denise's  eyes  had 
begun  to  sparkle,  and  a  mischievous  smile 
appeared  upon  her  lips. 

"  Maybe  our  mesmerizings  aren't  the  same, 
but  I  know  of  one  kind  that  is  the  funniest 
thing  that  you  ever  saw  if  we  only  had  some 
one  to  mesmerize." 

"  Who  told  you  about  it?" 

"  We  did  it  one  time  at  a  Hallowe'en  party, 
and  we  nearly  died  laughing.  Some  of  the  girls 
got  angry,  but  most  of  them  took  it  just  as  fun. 
It  really  was  fun,  for  it  did  not  do  them  the  least 
harm,  and  it  all  came  off." 

"  What  came  off  ?"  persisted  Pokey,  for 
162 


MISCHIEF 

Denise's  explanation  certainly  left  room  for 
speculation. 

"  The  smudge.  I  tell  you  what  we'll  do. 
We'll  mesmerize  Eliza.  She's  such  a  good- 
natured  old  thing  that  she'll  not  mind  it  a  bit, 
and  Mary  will  nearly  have  a  fit  when  she 
sees  her." 

Pokey's  faith  in  Denise  was  boundless,  so  a 
few  moments  later  the  conspiracy  was  hatched, 
and  the  two  scapegraces  were  on  their  way  to 
victimize  Eliza. 

Running  down  to  the  little  porch  just  outside 
the  laundry-door,  where  Eliza  took  her  evening 
airing  after  the  labors  of  the  day  were  ended, 
the  children  pounced  upon  her,  crying : 

"  Oh,  Eliza,  we  have  come  to  show  you  and 
Mary  something  wonderful  that  we  have 
learned.     Do  you  want  to  see  it  ?" 

"  Somethin'  wondherful,  is  it,  Miss  Denise  ? 
Shure,  yoursilf  and  Miss  Pokey  is  wondhers  all 
riddy." 

"No,  but  really,  Eliza,  this  is  something 
163 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

wonderful!  Have  you  ever  heard  of  a  man 
named  Mesmer  ?" 

"  Mismer  ?  What  was  he  loike  at  all  ?  Was 
it  him  thot  came  out  to  tach  ye  all  to  dance  last 
winter  ?" 

"Oh,  no!  That  was  Monsieur  Mezereau. 
The  man  Pokey  and  I  mean  was  a  great  magi- 
cian, and  could  do  almost  anything." 

"  A  mugician  ?  What  did  he  play  on,  thin  ? 
A  horn  ?  Thim  Frinch  min  does  be  playin' 
horns  mostly." 

"  Oh,  Eliza,  she  doesn't  mean  a  musician," 
explained  Pokey.  "  She  means  a  man  that  does 
all  sorts  of  tricks,  and  magic  things  like  they  do 
in  the  theatres.     Have  you  ever  seen  one  ?" 

"Sure!  Didn't  me  niphew  take  me  to  see 
that  feller  called  Heller  whin  I  was  down  in 
New  York  this  very  sphring  past.  Faith,  he 
was  a  marvil  thin,  an'  no  mistake.  Is  it  him 
ye  mane,  an'  can  ye  do  some  av  thim  things 
yersels?"  and  Eliza  clasped  and  unclasped  her 
hands  in  excitement,  for  her  trip  to  town  to 

164 


MISCHIEF 

pass  a  week  with  her  married  sister  early  in  the 
spring,  the  first  Mrs.  Lombard  had  been  able  to 
persuade  her  to  take  in  more  than  two  years, 
had  been  one  of  the  events  of  her  life,  and  the 
happenings  of  that  week,  among  which  had 
been  an  evening  at  the  theatre  watching  Pro- 
fessor Heller's  marvelous  performances,  had 
been  gone  over  again  and  again  for  the  benefit 
of  the  none  too  credulous  Mary. 

"  Well,  we  can't  do  all  the  things  he  did,  of 
course,"  said  Denise, "  but  we  can  do  one  of  them. 
We  can  put  you  to  sleep  and  make  you  do  just  the 
things  we  tell  you  if  you  will  let  us.   Will  you  ?" 

"  Thot  Heller  man  put  a  girl  to  slape,  and 
then  tuck  away  the  thing  she  was  slapin'  on 
and  left  her  lyin'  there  on  the  air !  Could  ye 
do  "thot  same  wid  me  ?"  demanded  Eliza  in 
amazement. 

"  We  can  put  you  to  sleep,  but  we  don't  know 
how  to  make  you  lie  on  the  air,"  answered 
Denise,  a  twinkle  coming  into  her  eyes  as  she 
surveyed  Eliza's  ample  proportions. 

165 


DENISE  AND   NED   TOODLES 

"  Well  thin,  thry  it  now,  an'  I'll  bet  ye  all 
me  old  shoes  that  niver  a  wink  will  ye  be 
afther  gittin'  out  av  me.  So  there  now  !"  and 
Eliza  settled  herself  comfortably  back  in  the 
rocking-chair  she  was  occupying,  and  looked 
defiance  at  her  amateur  magicians. 

"  Will  you  do  just  exactly  as  we  tell  you  to 
do?"  demanded  Pokey. 

"  Sure  !"  with  a  confirming  nod. 

Meantime  Mary,  who  had  been  having  a 
neighborly  chat  across  the  fence  with  Mr.  Mur- 
ray's gardener,  came  upon  the  scene,  and  at 
once  became  interested  in  the  proceedings. 

"  There  now,  ye  wouldn't  belave  me  whin  I 
towld  ye  all  I'd  seen  down  yonder,  would  ye 
now  ?"  cried  Eliza,  "  but  here  the  very  childer 
know  about  it  an'  will  be  afther  showin'  ye. 
They  think  that  they'll  be  able  to  put  me  to 
slape  !  Faith,  it  do  be  wake-moinded  cratures 
that  can  be  sint  off  to  the  land  o'  nod  by  thim 
thricks.  I'm  not  such  a  fool  as  not  to  know 
thai  much.     But  let  thim  thry  if  they  want  to. 

166 


MISCHIEF 

It'll  do  me  no  harm,  and  it'll  show  ye  a  thing 
or  two  ye've  been  doubtin',"  and  Eliza,  whom 
Mary  had  driven  nearly  to  the  point  of  distrac- 
tion by  teasing  unmercifully  when  she  had  related 
some  of  her  experiences  while  in  town,  nodded 
her  head  in  the  way  that  meant,  maybe  you  will 
believe  me  when  you  have  seen  it  tried  yourself. 

Pokey  and  Denise  now  came  running  back 
armed  and  equipped  for  magical  deeds.  They 
carried  three  plates,  each  one  partially  filled 
with  water.  When  they  saw  Mary,  Pokey  cried  : 

"  Oh,  Mary,  you  must  let  me  mesmerize  you, 
while  Denise  mesmerizes  Eliza.  Will  you  ? 
Please  do." 

"If  she  kin  stand  it  I  guess  I  kin,"  was 
Mary's  laughing  reply,  and,  taking  a  seat  beside 
Eliza,  she  waited  developments.  Pokey  rushed 
back  into  the  house  and  presently  returned  with 
a  fourth  plate. 

v  "  Now  you  must  both  do  just  exactly  as  you 
see  us  do,  and  you  must  look  right  straight  at 
us  every  minute,"  commanded  Denise. 

167 


DENISE   AND    NED   TOODLES 

"Sure,  that's  dead  aisy,"  answered  Eliza, 
reaching  two  chubby  hands  for  her  plate. 

Denise  undertook  to  direct  Eliza,  while  Pokey 
gave  her  attention  to  Mary. 

"  Now  hold  it  just  this  way,  and  no  other," 
said  Denise,  adjusting  the  plate  in  Eliza's  hands 
in  such  a  manner  that  her  thumbs  rested  upon 
the  rim,  and  her  four  fingers  just  touched  the 
under  side.  "  Don't  take  your  eyes  from  my 
face,  and  don't  laugh  whatever  you  do.  Mary, 
you  do  just  exactly  the  same  as  you  see  Pokey 
do." 

Two  chairs  were  then  placed  opposite  their 
victims,  and  the  children  took  their  seats,  their 
own  plates  held  in  precisely  the  same  manner 
the  maids  were  holding  theirs. 

"  One,  two,  three,"  counted  Denise,  and  "  one, 
two,  three,"  counted  Pokey. 

"  Wan,twoo,  thrae-e,"  echoed  Eliza,  and  "one, 
two,  three,"  repeated  Mary,  looking  intently  at 
the  children. 

"  With  this  magic  sign  I  charm  thee,"  droned 
168 


MISCHIEF 

Denise,  dipping  her  finger  into  her  plate  and 
making  a  snake-like  streak  across  her  forehead. 

" '  Tis  the  sign  av  the  divvil  himsilf,  I  doubt," 
muttered  Eliza. 

"  Hush  !  You  must  say  exactly  what  I  say," 
commanded  Denise. 

"  The  god  of  sleep  descend  upon  you,"  mut- 
tered Pokey,  frowning  prodigiously  at  Mary,  and 
making  moist,  wavy  signs  upon  her  own  fore- 
head, which  Mary  imitated  with  a  half-laugh- 
ing, half-scared  look. 

"  Hickory,  dickory,  dockory,  o, — Four  little 
imps  on  the  bottom,  I  know,"  continued  Denise, 
doing  her  best  to  keep  a  straight  face,  while 
Eliza  repeated  with  more  or  less  accuracy  the 
nonsense  which  had  sprung  into  Denise's  fertile 
brain  and  out  of  her  lips,  as  she  rubbed  her 
fingers  around  and  around  upon  the  bottom  of 
her  plate,  and  then  drew  it  carefully  down  the 
bridge  of  her  tip-tilted  nose ;  Eliza  doing  pre- 
cisely the  same  so  far  as  motion  was  concerned, 
but  with  a  far  more  startling  result. 

169 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

" '  De  gustibus  non  est  disputandum,'  "  *  quoted 
Pokey,  airing  some  of  the  Latin  which  she  had 
learned  the  previous  winter,  and  which  she  now 
used  with  telling  effect  upon  Mary. 

"  Lord  have  mercy  upon  us !  She's  sayin' 
the  very  words  the  praist  said  on  Sunday 
last !"  said  Eliza,  glancing  hastily  toward 
Pokey. 

"Oh,  you  mustn't!  You  mustn't!"  cried 
Denise.  "  Now  pay  strict  attention  to  me. 
By  all  the  powers  of  the  little  god  of  sleep," 
and  a  finger  was  rubbed  beneath  the  plate,  and 
then  a  cross  made  upon  her  cheek  r  "  By  all 
the  charms  that  he  can  work  upon  us,"  another 
cross  upon  the  other  cheek  :  "By  every  dream 
that  haunts  us,"  more  vigorous  rubbing  upon 
the  bottom  of  her  plate,  and  cabalistic  signs 
drawn  upon  her  face,  which  were  closely  imi- 
tated by  Eliza's  fat  finger,  upon  her  fatter  face, 
until  it  would  have  been  doubtful  if  her  own 
sister,  so  recently  visited,  would   have  recog- 

*  There  is  no  use  disputing  about  tastes. 
J70 


MISCHIEF 

nized  her.  "  By — ,  By — ,  oh  dear  I  Don't  you 
feel  the  least  little  bit  sleepy  ?" 

"  Sorry  a  wink  !  Didn't  I  tell  ye  it  would 
take  a  wake-moinded  person,  Mary  ?"  turning 
a  most  triumphant,  soot-marked  face  toward 
Mary,  who,  giving  a  howl  of  derision,  let  her 
own  plate  go  rolling  across  the  porch  floor,  to 
bound  off  the  steps  and  land  in  the  grass,  where 
it  lay  peacefully  right  side  up  and  told  no 
tales. 

"  What  are  ye  howling  at  me  loike  that  for, 
I'd  loike  to  know  ?"  demanded  Eliza,  for  Mary 
had  come  to  the  house  when  a  mere  slip  of  a 
girl,  and  Eliza  had  trained  her  in  the  way  she 
should  go,  and  laughing  at  her  superior  was  not 
one  of  the  duties  inculcated. 

"  Oh,  Eliza,  will  ye  be  lookin*  at  yer  face  I 
'Tis  a  sight  for  sinners  ye  are !" 

"Well,  thin,"  cried  Eliza,  bridling,  and 
adding  red  as  well  as  black  to  her  decorations, 
"  maybe  it  would  be  jist  as  well  were  ye  afther 
takin'  a  look  at  yer  own  pheeziognomy  in  the 

171 


DENISE   AND    NED   TOODLES 

mirror  there  in  the  dinin'-room  beyant,  for 
beloik  ye'd  think  that  ye  had  not  missed  all  the 
beauty  av  the  whorld  entoirly,"  and  up  ros* 
Eliza  to  sail  majestically  into  the  house,  from 
whence  a  moment  later  arose  a  howl  of  wrath 
which  caused  Denise  and  Pokey  to  flee  to  the 
seclusion  of  the  Birds'  Nest,  there  to  confide  to 
Ned  Toodles  the  prank  they  had  played  upon 
the  autocrats  of  the  kitchen  and  dining-room, 
while  said  autocrats  resorted  to  a  vigorous  appli- 
lation  of  pumice-stone  soap  and  hot  water, 
meanwhile  comparing  notes  and  vowing  ven- 
geance upon  their  would-be  mesmerizers. 

"Ah,  'tis  sthrong-minded  ye  are,  Eliza," 
cried  Mary,  scouring  vigorously,  and  then  burst- 
ing into  hearty  laughter. 

"  Faith  I  do  be  thinkin'  it's  a  nayguer  I  am, 
an'  no  mistake.  Did  iver  ye  know  the  loikes 
av  them  childer,  to  take  in  an  old  woman  loike 
me  wid  their  palaverin'?  Faith,  it's  makin' 
their  marks  in  the  whorld  the'll  be  afther 
doin'l" 

17a  , 


MISCHIEF 

"  Glory  be,  but  they've  already  begun  on 
oursels,  an'  no  mistake,"  and  Mary  sat  down 
upon  a  near-by  cbair  to  laugh  as  only  a  light- 
hearted  Irish  girl  can,  even  though  the  joke  be 
at  her  own  expense. 


12-  Dense.  173 


CHAPTEE  XIV 

AUNT  MIRANDA  COMES  FROM  TOWN 

VACATION  was  slipping  away  all  too 
rapidly,  and  the  first  of  September 
drawing  near  to  carry  Pokey  away 
from  her  beloved  Springdale  and  back  to 
the  city  and  school  duties.  But  Pokey 
was  an  ambitious  little  soul,  as  well  as  a  very 
philosophical  one,  and  took  her  blessings  as  they 
came,  making  the  most  of  them  for  the  time 
being,  and  taking  up  the  duties  with  a  cheerful 
face  when  the  time  arrived  to  take  them — a 
characteristic  which  followed  her  through  her 
whole  life,  and  made  many  a  wearisome  burden 
less  wearisome. 

But  two  more  weeks  remained  of  that  precious 
vacation,  and  how  to  make  those  weeks  the  very 

174 


AUNT   MIRANDA    COMES    FROM    TOWN 

best  of  all  was  a  problem  the  children  were  set- 
tling themselves  to  solve  one  warm  morning, 
when  John  appeared  with  the  mail-bag.  Spring- 
ing from  their  seats  upon  the  soft  grass  under 
the  old  apple-tree,  and  scattering  dogs,  cats,  a 
goat,  and  a  pony  helter-skelter,  the  two  girls 
rushed  after  him  to  claim  any  mail  the  bag 
might  hold  for  them.  True,  their  correspond- 
ence was  not  so  overwhelming  that  they  re- 
quired amanuenses,  but  a  mail-bag  has  a  won- 
derful fascination  for  both  old  and  young  folk, 
and  simply  to  watch  for  a  possible  letter  was 
exciting. 

This  time  there  was  the  usual  supply  for  each 
member  of  the  family,  and,  although  there  was 
nothing  for  either  of  the  children,  there  was 
one  letter  which  held  a  peculiar,  and  none  too 
pleasing,  interest  for  the  family.  This  one  came 
from  an  aunt  who  usually  visited  the  family 
once  a  year — an  aunt  of  Mr.  Lombard's,  who 
had  seen  many,  many  summers  and  winters  pass 
by,  and  yet  had  never  learned  that  simplest  oi 

175 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

all  lessons  :  to  look  upon  certain  situations  with 
other  people's  eyes.  No,  Aunt  Miranda  saw 
things  with  her  own  eyes,  and  why  her  range  of 
vision  was  not  the  only  correct  one,  or  why 
some  one's  else  might  not  be  equally  correct, 
sixty-seven  years  spent  upon  this  big  globe  had 
utterly  failed  to  convince  her.  In  her  day 
young  girls,  young  men,  middle-aged  men,  and 
middle-aged  women  did  thus  and  so,  and  con- 
sequently ought  to  do  so  at  the  present  day. 

It  need  hardly  be  added  that  her  annual  visit 
was  not  anticipated  with  enthusiasm,  for,  from 
the  moment  she  entered  the  front  door  to  the 
moment  it  closed  upon  her,  a  succession  of  com- 
ments, criticisms,  and  commands,  issued  as  only 
Aunt  Miranda  could  give  voice  to  them,  kept 
everybody  rubbed  the  wrong  way,  and  made 
things  generally  miserable. 

"  Oh,  dear-r-r !  Is  she  really  coming  day 
after  to-morrow  ?"  wailed  Denise,  in  a  tone  very 
unlike  her  usual  cheery  one,  for  if  "  coming 
events    cast   their   shadows    before,"    certainly 

176 


AUNT   MIRANDA    COMES    FROM   TOWN 

Aunt  Miranda's  letter  had  already  obscured  the 
sun. 

"  Sweetheart  !"  said  Mrs.  Lombard  gently. 

"  Yes,  I  know  what  you  mean,  mamma,  and 
I  know  it  isn't  the  proper  way  to  speak  of  a 
guest ;  and  I  know  you  don't  like  to  have  me 
feel  so ;  and  I  know  that  it's  just  hateful  to ; 
and  I  know  that  Aunt  Miranda  is  coming,  and, 
oh,  me,  that  means  the  fidgets  for  every  one  of 
us,  from  Beauty  Buttons  straight  down  to  you, 
or  up,  just  as  you  want  to  count.  There  !  Now 
I've  said  my  hateful  things,  I'll  set  about  get- 
ting my  mind  in  shape  for  saying  nice  ones, 
when  way  down  inside  myself  I  feel  like  saying 
horrid  ones,  and  if  that  is  not  being  a  little 
hypocrite  I'd  like  to  know  it,"  and  Denise  gave 
herself  a  shake  as  though  she  hated  the  very 
thought  of  doing  something  which  she  knew 
did  not  ring  true. 

Mrs.  Lombard  was  too  wise  a  woman  to  read 
her  little  daughter  a  lesson  on  manners  and 
morals  and  goody-goody  conduct  generally,  for 

177 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

she  understood  human  nature  too  well  for  that, 
and  realized  just  how  hard  it  was  for  a  happy, 
open-hearted  girl,  entirely  natural  in  speech  and 
manner,  to  control  herself  when  every  act,  every 
word,  and  every  expression  of  countenance  was 
undergoing  the  keenest  criticism,  and  she  was 
being  taken  to  task  for  the  very  acts  which  had 
always  been  considered  proper  by  those  who  had 
trained  her  so  carefully.  So  now,  instead  of 
speaking  harshly,  or  making  the  situation  even 
more  trying  by  laying  down  certain  rules  to  be 
followed  during  the  coming  visit,  she  did  the 
one  thing  best  calculated  to  smooth  a  ruffled 
spirit.  Laying  down  the  unwelcome  letter,  she 
took  Denise's  rather  defiant  face  in  both  her 
hands,  drew  her  gently  toward  her,  and  kissed 
her  ever  so  softly  just  under  the  little  curls 
upon  her  forehead,  saying  as  she  tlid  so  : 

"  If  it  were  not  for  the  little  clouds  in  the  sky 
we  should  never  half  appreciate  the  sunshine, 
darling.  We  all  have  obligations,  and  you  and 
I  will  endeavor  to   meet  ours  gracefully,  even 

178 


AUNT   MIRANDA   COMES    FROM   TOWN 

though  they  are  not  as  pleasant  as  they  might 
be.  One  little  week  out  of  our  lives  will  hardly 
count,  and  some  day  we  shall  both  be  old  and, 
possibly,  peculiar  ourselves.  Then  we  will  be 
glad  to  have  others  tolerant  of  our  peculi- 
arities. But  in  the  present  case  we  must  both 
fill  the  role  of  hostess,  and,  as  the  Scots  say, 
'  Stranger  is  a  holy  name.'  Aunt  Miranda  is  not 
a  stranger  to  us  by  any  means,  but  if  we  substi- 
tute the  word  '  guest '  for  that  of  '  stranger/ 
we  shall  hold  to  the  spirit  of  the  old  saying,  and 
that  is  all  we  need  consider.  Shall  we  try  to 
remember,  Sweetheart  ?" 

"  I'd  be  the  crankiest  old  thing  that  ever  lived 
if  I  didn't,  and  Aunt  Miranda  will  find  me  a 
perfect  saint !"  cried  Denise,  the  laugh  coming 
back  to  her  usually  sunny  face. 

"  Not  a  saint ;  they  are  entirely  too  oppressive 
for  every-day  life ;  just  a  '  creature  not  too  wise 
or  good  for  human  nature's  daily  food/  you 
know,"  answered  Mrs.  Lombard,  with  a  final 
pat  upon  Denise's  head,  and  a  smile  for  Pokey. 

179 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

In  the  course  of  time  Aunt  Miranda,  her 
baggage,  and  her  whims  arrived.  Denise  and 
Pokey  drove  to  the  station  with  John  when  he 
went  to  meet  that  estimable  lady,  and  were 
greeted  with : 

"  My  heart  and  body !  how  do  you  ever 
expect  me  to  get  into  that  carriage  with  you  in 
it  already?  I  can't  abide  being  crushed,  and  I 
shall  not  put  my  bag  and  things  on  the  bottom 
of  the  carriage." 

"Oh,  Pokey  and  I  will  sit  on  the  front  seat 
of  the  surrey  with  John,  Aunt  Miranda,  and 
you  can  put  all  your  things  on  the  seat  beside 
you,"  cried  Denise,  remembering  her  mother's 
gentle  words,  and  doing  her  best  to  overcome 
the  spirit  of  rebellion  which  this  "  dash  of  cold 
water"  instantly  summoned  up  within  her,  for 
Aunt  Miranda  had  not  taken  the  slightest 
notice  of  her  greeting,  but,  pushing  her  to  one 
side,  had  sailed  straight  for  the  surrey,  and  the 
opening  remark  had  been  her  first  words. 

"  And  crowd  him  up  so  that  he  can't  manage 
1 80 


AUNT    MIRANDA    COMES    FROM    TOWN 

the  horses  ?  Not  if  I  know  it !  I  never  risk  my 
life  with  fractious  horses." 

"  Oh,  Sunshine  and  Flash  are  never  frac- 
tious!" cried  Denise,  prompt  to  defend  her 
favorites.  "They  are  only  spirited,  and  John 
can  manage  them  perfectly." 

Aunt  Miranda  turned  upon  her  like  a  whirl- 
wind. "  Young  lady,  will  you  be  good  enough 
to  let  me  have  an  opinion  of  my  own  ?  I've 
ridden  behind  those  animals  more  than  once,  I 
can  assure  you,  and  I  think  that  I  know  a 
thing  or  two  about  them  which  even  you,  with 
all  your  wisdom,  may  not  have  learned  yet. 
Elizabeth  Delano,  come  right  out  of  that 
surrey !  You  and  Denise  (where  on  earth 
your  father  and  mother  ever  found  that 
heathenish  name  I  can't  conceive)  may  walk 
home.  'Twon't  hurt  you  one  mite.  Then  I'll 
put  my  things  on  that  seat  and  set  Lorenzo  on 
this  seat  beside  me ;  he  can't  bear  to  be  away 
from  me  a  moment,"  and  she  held  forth  to 
John,   who  was  already   seething  inwardly,  a 

181 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

bag  and  bundle  of  shawls,  while  she  firmly 
grasped  a  huge  cage  which  held  the  idolized 
"  Lorenzo,"  a  parrot  of  many  accomplishments 
and  diabolical  temper. 

Pokey  came  meekly  forth,  and  Aunt  Miranda 
stalked  into  the  place  she  had  vacated.  The 
cage  was  settled  beside  her,  her  traps  beside 
John,  and  her  orders  issued. 

"  Now,  don't  you  children  come  tearing  home 
as  though  your  lives  depended  upon  your  get- 
ting there  within  the  next  five  minutes.  It's 
only  eleven  o'clock  now,  and  your  luncheon 
won't  be  ready  for  two  hours.  So  take  your 
time,  do  you  understand  ?" 

"  Wait  here,  Miss  Denise,  and  I'll  drive  back 
for  you  and  Miss  Pokey,"  said  John,  for  he  was 
wroth  with  the  elderly  maiden  who  would  make 
his  young  mistress  tramp  nearly  a  mile  through 
the  sultry  August  heat. 

"  You'll  do  nothing  of  the  sort !  My  heart 
and  body,  do  you  suppose  it  is  going  to  kill  two 
perfectly  healthy  girls  to  walk  that  distance? 

182 


AUNT   MIRANDA   COMES    FROM   TOWN 

In  my  time  girls  walked  or  stayed  home,  I  can 
tell  you.  No  such  nonsense  as  teams  being  sent 
for  them.  Now  you  girls  come  right  along 
behind  ;  do  you  understand  ?"  and  Aunt 
Miranda  wagged  a  lisle-covered  finger  at  the 
bewildered  pair  upon  the  platform.  But  before 
further  orders  could  be  issued,  John  adroitly 
drew  the  long  whip-lash  gently  across  Flash's 
flanks,  and  that  sagacious  horse  needed  no 
broader  hint  to  put  a  quietus  to  Aunt  Mi- 
randa's tirade.  It  was  all  fun  and  good  spir- 
its, but  when  Flash  "  arose  to  the  occasion n 
by  rearing  upon  his  hind  feet  and  then 
making  a  dash  forward,  which  Sunshine  was 
not  slow  in  following,  Aunt  Miranda  had  all 
she  wished  to  attend  to. 

"  My  heart  and  body !  My  heart  and  body !" 
she  screamed,  grasping  the  front  seat  with  one 
hand  and  holding  on  to  Lorenzo  for  dear  life 
with  the  other.  "  Look  out  for  those  demons  ! 
Didn't  I  say  they  were  fractious  ?  I  shall  do 
all  in  my  power  to  persuade  Lewis  to  sell  them 

183 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

at  once.  They  are  not  fit,  to  be  driven  by  any 
one  !     Vicious  brutes !" 

"Oh,  that's  jist  the  tickle  in  their  fate, 
ma'am,"  said  John,  doing  his  best  not  to  smile, 
and  sending  at  the  same  time  a  silent  message 
along  the  reins  all  too  well  understood  by  those 
sagacious  beasts.  That  ride  of  three-quarters 
of  a  mile  was  a  wild  one,  for  if  John  could 
not  speak  his  mind  to  the  lady  behind  him, 
he  certainly  held  a  means  of  retaliation  which 
worked  to  a  charm,  and  when  he  finally 
whisked  her  up  to  the  doorstep,  both  she  and 
Lorenzo  had  experienced  a  very  lively  five 
minutes,  and  a  more  flustered  bird,  or  more 
flustered  elderly  lady,  it  would  have  been 
difficult  to  find. 

"  Emilie  Lombard,  if  you  ever  send  those 
horses  for  me  again  I  shall  refuse  to  ride  behind 
them !"  was  the  greeting  Mrs.  Lombard  heard 
as  she  hastened  to  welcome  her  guest.  "  They 
are  perfect  demons;  just  nothing  but  demons! 
Here,  let  me  get  out  before  they  kill  me  out- 

184 


AUNT    MIRANDA    COMES    FROM    TOWN 

right !  Never,  never  again  shall  I  ride  in  this 
carriage !  There,  there  !  Be  careful  how  you 
handle  Lorenzo,  Mary.  He  has  been  nearly 
shaken  to  death  as  it  is,  and  I  dare  say  will  be 
ill  from  the  fright.  No,  don't  touch  that  bag  I 
It  has  my  camphor  and  smelling-salts,  to  say 
nothing  of  several  other  things,  which  I  never 
permit  any  one  to  touch,  in  it.  Emilie,  you  hold 
this  while  I  get  out,  and  John,  get  straight  down 
and  hold  those  beasts'  heads.  I  sha'n't  stir  one 
step  from  this  carriage  unless  you  do,  and  I 
don't  know  but  what  I'll  die  of  fright  if  I  stay 
in  it.  My  heart  and  body,  why  people  can 
want  to  drive  such  fractious  animals  is  entirely 
beyond  my  understanding." 

John  obediently  dismounted,  and,  going  to 
the  horses'  heads,  began  the  little  freemasonry 
which  he  and  they  so  well  understood,  with  the 
result  that  they  nosed  and  mumbled  him  like  a 
pair  of  kittens,  and  no  kittens  could  have  shown 
more  coyness  than  they  while  their  irate  pas- 
senger was  removing  herself  and  her  belongings 

185 


DENISE  AND   NED   TOODLES 

from  the  carriage,  and  fussing  and  bustling  her- 
self into  the  house. 

"  Faith,  we  fixed  her  well  that  toime,  didn't 
we  now,  me  dandies  ?"  said  John  with  a  know- 
ing laugh,  as  he  gave  a  final  pat  to  the  pretty- 
creatures,  and  sprang  back  into  the  surrey. 
"  And  now  we'll  spin  back  for  the  young  ladies, 
that  we  will,  and  never  turn  a  hair  for  the  spin. 
Walk  home  is  it  they  will  ?  Faith,  I'd  loike 
to  see  thim  doin'  the  loiks  of  it  if  me  and  you 
knows  what  we're  about !  Now,  thin  !  Off  wid 
yees  1" 


*86 


CHAPTEE  XV 

AUNT  MIKANDA  AND  NED  HAVE  A  LITTLE 
ALTEKCATION 

IT  all  began  with  Beauty  Buttons.  Ordi- 
narily Beauty  was  a  well-behaved  dog,  but 
even  a  well-behaved  dog  has  been  known, 
to  resent  discourtesies,  and  Beauty  had  a  griev- 
ance.  In  the  first  place,  he  knew  his  rights  and 
privileges,  and  meant  to  have  them  respected 
One  of  these  was  to  lie  upon  the  couch-rug  in 
the  guest-room  if  he  chose  to  do  so.  With  Aunt 
Miranda's  advent  that  privilege  was  withheld 
for  the  time  being,  but  of  this,  of  course,  Beauty 
was  ignorant,  and  when  he  felt  disposed  to  take 
a  little  siesta  in  the  cool,  inviting  guest-room, 
thither  he  made  his  way,  and  was  peacefully 
dreaming  of  luscious  bones  when  Aunt  Miranda 

187 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

pounced  upon  him,  and,  with  one  sweep  of  her 
strong  right  arm,  sent  him  sprawling  upon  the 
floor,  there  to  blink  at  her  with  sleep-stupefied 
eyes  until  another  swoop  sent  him  scurrying  out 
of  the  room  to  rush  to  the  Birds'  Nest,  there,  no 
doubt,  to  confide  his  wrongs  to  Ned  Toodles' 
sympathetic  ears,  and  receive  assurance  that  they 
would  be  avenged  at  the  earliest  possible  mo- 
ment.   The  moment  arrived  that  very  afternoon. 

"  Emilie  Lombard,  how  am  I  to  get  to  the 
village  to  register  this  letter  ?"  demanded  Aunt 
Miranda  shortly  after  luncheon. 

"  John  will  take  it  for  you,  Aunt  Miranda,  if 
it  is  very  important,"  answered  Mrs.  Lombard. 

"No  he  won't,  either!  Catch  me  trusting 
an  important  letter  to  that  Irishman  !  He  would 
not  know  the  difference  between  a  registered 
letter  and  one  to  be  sent  special  delivery  ;  I  shall 
take  it  myself.  But  how  am  I  to  get  there,  I'd 
like  to  know  ?" 

"  John  will  drive  you  up  in  time  for  the  out- 
going mail  if  you  wish  to  have  him." 

1 88 


A    LITTLE    ALTERCATION 

"  Drive  me  with  what  ?  Not  those  demons, 
I  can  tell  you.  I  would  not  go  with  those 
horses  if  I  never  went." 

"  Oh,  you  really  need  not  feel  any  alarm. 
They  are  perfectly  safe.  I  will  accompany  you 
if  it  will  make  you  feel  any  easier." 

"  And  like  enough  both  of  us  will  be  killed. 
No.  I  shall  go  in  the  pony-carriage.  If  that 
snip  of  a  horse  cuts  up  I  shall  get  out  and  put 
him  in  the  carriage  and  drag  him  home," 
asserted  Aunt  Miranda,  in  happy  innocence  of 
that  small  beast's  capabilities  when  he  was  not 
treated  with  proper  respect.  Moreover,  did  he 
not  have  a  wrong  to  avenge  for  a  fellow-pet  ? 

"  Very  well,  Denise  will  drive  you  to  the  post- 
office  with  pleasure,"  was  Mrs.  Lombard's  gentle 
reply. 

"  She  won't  drive  me  with  pleasure  or  any- 
thing else,  for  I  mean  to  drive  myself  I"  was  the 
startling  statement,  made  with  a  series  of  posi- 
tive wags  of  Aunt  Miranda's  head. 

"  Oh — "  began  Denise,  who,  with  Pokey,  had 

t»—  Denise.  1 89 


DENIS  E   AND    NED    T  OODLES 

been  a  silent  listener  to  the  foregoing  conversa- 
tion, and  who  could  no  longer  keep  quiet,  for 
well  she  knew  what  might  be  expected  from 
Ned  if  Aunt  Miranda  undertook  to  drive  him 
to  the  village. 

"  Now,  Miss,  you  need  make  no  remarks,  nor 
advance  any  opinions.  I  drove  long  before  you, 
or  your  mother,  were  born,  and  I  have  an  idea 
that  I  can  drive  yet.  At  any  rate,  I  mean  to 
try,  and  it  won't  do  a  mite  of  good  for  you  to 
try  to  stop  me.     I'm  going  /" 

Denise  gave  one  imploring  look  at  her 
mother,  who  answered  it  with  another  which 
meant,  "  We  will  not  say  another  word." 

The  order  was  given,  and  twenty  minutes 
later  Aunt  Miranda  took  her  seat  in  the  little 
phaeton,  her  tall,  spare  figure  towering  up  from 
it  like  a  liberty -pole,  and  her  face  set  in  deter- 
mination to  drive  that  atom  of  an  animal  or  die 
in  the  attempt. 

"  Now  you  stand  right  there  at  his  head  until 
I  get  comfortably  settled,  you  man.     I  don't 

190 


A     LITTLE     ALTERCATION 

want  to  be  jerked  all  to  pieces  before  I  get  my 
clothes  settled  right,  and  that  beast  seems  to 
have  been  imbibing  some  of  those  horses'  ideas," 
she  said,  as  Ned  cocked  one  wicked  eye  back 
toward  her  as  she  stepped  into  the  carriage. 
"  And  yon  come  and  tuck  this  linen  robe  in  so 
that  it  won't  drag  a  mile  on  the  ground,"  she 
continued,  beckoning  to  Denise,  who  stood  at 
the  foot  of  the  steps,  undecided  whether  to  offer 
her  services  or  keep  discreetly  in  the  back- 
ground. She  came  obediently  forward  at  the 
bidding,  Pokey  hastening  to  the  other  side  of 
the  phaeton  to  do  her  share.  "  Stand  aside. 
Keep  out  of  the  way.  One  person  can  do  this 
easy  enough,"  was  the  ungracious  speech  which 
greeted  Pokey's  overture. 

"  Now  hand  me  those  reins.  There !  I'd 
like  to  see  him  cut  up  now!"  she  said,  as  she 
gave  the  reins  a  twist  about  her  hands,  and  held 
them  as  though  she  were  holding  an  elephant. 
"  Now  stand  out  of  my  way,  all  of  you.  Now  !" 
and  giving  the  loud  cluck  which  she  felt  to  be 

191 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

the  correct  signal  for  a  start,  and  slapping  the 
reins  upon  Ned's  back,  she  essayed  to  start, 
John  had  held  Ned's  head  up  to  this  moment, 
but  now  he  let  go,  and,  with  a  bound,  Ned 
started  forward,  to  find  himself  suddenly  jerked 
almost  upon  his  haunches. 

"  Not  if  I  know  it,  you  little  villain  I"  cried 
his  driver. 

Ned  came  to  a  standstill,  but  gave  his  head 
two  or  three  ominous  shakes  sidewise,  which,  to 
any  one  understanding  him  as  Denise  under- 
stood him,  meant  mischief  ahead,  but  Aunt 
Miranda  merely  regarded  them  as  a  proof  of 
her  control  over  him. 

"  Now  I  shall  take  my  time  and  go  by  the 
river-road,"  she  announced  to  those  watching 
her,  "  and  you  need  not  expect  me  back  for 
more  than  an  hour.  I've  no  notion  of  being 
hustled  about," 

At  the  announcement  that  she  was  going  by 
the  river-road,  Denise  sprang  forward  and 
clasped   her   hands   about   her   mother's   arm, 

192 


A    LITTLE    ALTERCATION 

whispering  excitedly  :  "  Oh,  mamma,  she  ought 
not  go  that  way  with  Ned.  You  know  Mr. 
Blair's  Nero !" 

"Aunt  Miranda,"  called  Mrs.  Lombard,  "I 
would  advise  you  to  take  the  other  road.  Mr. 
Blair's — "  but  Aunt  Miranda  had  not  paused 
for  any  instructions,  and,  with  a  backward  nod, 
drove  off  with  determination  in  her  eye  and 
defiance  in  her  attitude. 

Now  Ned's  mouth  still  pained  from  the  jerk 
it  had  received,  and  Ned's  sense  of  right  and 
justice  had  been  outraged  at  the  very  outset. 
He  was  never  vicious,  but,  on  the  other  hand, 
he  was  invariably  wisely  handled,  and  care- 
fully driven.  A  horse's  mouth,  if  properly 
treated,  is  a  wonderfully  sensitive  thing,  and 
Ned's  was  filled  with  many  delicate  nerves 
which  had  never  been  abused.  But  there  was 
nothing  gentle  about  the  person  who  now  had 
him  in  hand,  and  the  poor  little  beast  was 
having  anything  but  a  pleasant  time  of  it. 
With  arms  stretched  straight  out  in  front  of 

iQ3 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

her,  reins  grasped  as  though  she  were  driving 
upon  a  race-track,  and  her  body  as  rigidly  erect 
as  though  an  instant's  relaxation  would  bring 
instant  death,  she  sent  her  charger  along  the 
one  road  in  all  Springdale  that  he  detested,  for 
midway  between  his  home  and  the  village  lived 
his  sworn  enemy,  Mr.  Blair's  big  Newfound- 
land dog.  Several  months  before,  Denise  had 
had  an  experience  the  like  of  which  neither  she 
nor  Ned  wished  repeated.  She  was  driving  home 
from  the  post-office  one  morning,  when  over 
Mr.  Blair's  high  fence  bounded  a  huge  dog,  to 
rush  into  the  road  and  pounce  upon  Ned's  back, 
and  bite  savagely  at  the  saddle.  It  was  fortu- 
nate for  Ned  that  the  dog  happened  to  set  his 
teeth  in  the  harness,  or  the  poor  little  horse 
would  have  had  a  very  bad  quarter  of  an  hour 
indeed.  Denise  held  on  to  the  reins,  and  laid 
the  whip  upon  the  dog  with  a  will,  but  it  made 
little  impression  upon  his  shaggy  coat,  and 
something  very  serious  might  have  occurred 
had    not    Mr.    Blair's   groom    rushed   to  their 

194 


A    LITTLE    ALTERCATION 

rescue  to  beat  the  dog  off  and  drag  him  back 
to  their  own  grounds.  But  both  Denise  and 
Ned  had  received  a  thorough  fright,  and  after 
that  carefully  avoided  the  river-road. 

As  he  approached  Mr.  Blair's  grounds,  Ned 
steadily  increased  his  pace,  evidently  wishing 
to  get  past  as  speedily  as  possible.  But  Aunt 
Miranda  entirely  mistook  his  motive,  and  set 
herself  to  work  to  discipline  him.  They  got 
past  the  danger-point,  and  went  upon  their 
way,  doing  the  errand  at  the  post-office  without 
any  interruption,  and  all  would  have  gone  well 
had  Aunt  Miranda  taken  the  broad  hint  which 
Ned  tried  to  give  her  when  they  came  to  the 
two  roads  leading  toward  home-  Ned  wished 
to  take  the  upper  one.  Aunt  Miranda  wished 
to  take  the  lower  one,  and  for  a  few  minutes  it 
was  a  question  as  to  which  would  carry  their 
point. 

What  was  really  "good  horse  sense"  upon 
Ned's  part,  Aunt  Miranda  chose  to  regard  as 
balkiness,  and  set  herself  religiously  to  work 
:  T95 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

to  overcome  it.  A  lively  scuffle  ensued,  and 
for  a  few  moments  it  seemed  as  though  the 
occupant  of  that  little  phaeton  would  have  to 
make  good  her  threat  of  putting  Ned  into  it 
and  dragging  him  home  if  she  wished  to  have 
him  go  that  particular  road.  Presently  he 
stopped  his  antics,  stood  stock-still,  and  seemed 
to  consider  the  situation.  Then,  giving  a  defi- 
ant neigh,  he  started  pell-mell  down  the  road 
she  wished  to  follow,  as  though  to  say  : 

"  You  stupid  old  thing,  I've  done  my  best  to 
keep  you  out  of  trouble,  but  if  you  are  deter- 
mined to  have  it,  why  go  ahead.  Because  Nero 
was  not  around  when  we  came  up,  it  is  no  reason 
to  feel  sure  that  he  won't  be  there  when  we  go 
back,  and  if  you  come  to  grief  it  will  be  your 
own  fault.  I'll  take  my  chances,  and  if  I  don't 
make  good  use  of  my  legs  in  an  emergency,  it 
will  not  be  my  fault.  Now  come  on  with  you  !" 
and  off  he  pelted  full  tilt.  In  vain  did  Aunt 
Miranda  tug  at  those  reins.  Ned  had  the  bit 
in  his  teeth  and  she  might  as  well  have  tugged 

196 


A     LITTLE    ALTERCATION 

at  a  post,  for  fear  of  Nero,  combined  with  his 
determination  to  get  past  that  dreaded  spot  as 
speedily  as  possible,  settled  Aunt  Miranda's 
fate,  and  Ned  was  putting  for  friends  and 
safety. 

"  You  little  wretch,  how  dare  you  ?  It  is  all 
because  you  have  been  utterly  spoiled  with 
coddling.  Such  nonsense !  There  never  was  a 
beast  or  child  that  wasn't  utterly  ruined  with 
such  folly.  Will  you  go  slower  and  behave 
yourself?"  and  Aunt  Miranda  tugged  with  a 
will.  Now  Ned's  sight  was  keen  and  his  hear- 
ing acute,  and  what  Aunt  Miranda  neither  saw 
nor  heard  owing  to  her  tirade  toward  him,  he 
saw  and  heard  distinctly. 

They  came  to  the  Blair  grounds,  were  speed- 
ing past,  when  over  the  fence  sprang  a  creature 
which  Aunt  Miranda  took  to  be  nothing  less 
than  a  bear.  She  let  go  her  right  rein,  grabbed 
for  the  whip,  meantime  tugging  with  might  and 
main  upon  her  left  rein.  Perhaps  it  was  this 
which  really  saved  her,  for  when  the  great  dog 

197 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

saw  what  he  took  to  be  a  still  greater  one,  turn 
directly  toward  him,  as  though  to  pounce  straight 
upon  him,  some  of  his  courage  failed  him  and 
he  paused  for  just  a  second.  But  in  that  second 
a  number  of  things  happened.  The  sudden 
jerk  upon  the  left  rein  had  thrown  Ned  com- 
pletely out  of  his  gait,  and  caused  him  to  swerve 
suddenly  toward  the  gutter,  which  was  nothing 
more  than  a  deep  gully  beside  the  road.  Into 
it  went  the  wheels,  and  over  tipped  the  phaeton, 
landing  Aunt  Miranda,  whip  and  all,  in  a  heap. 
As  she  fell  out,  the  sudden  overturn  brought  the 
whip  full  upon  Ned's  back,  and  at  the  same 
moment  she  loosened  her  hold  upon  the  other 
rein.  Thus  released,  and  with  a  stinging  lash 
across  his  haunches,  it  was  no  wonder  that  Ned 
took  the  broad  hint  to  depart,  and  he  departed 
with  might  and  main ;  tearing  down  the  road  with 
the  phaeton  bounding  along  behind  him,  for  it 
had  righted  almost  instantly,  he  paused  not  upon 
the  order  of  going,  or  for  ladies  who  for  the  past 
hour  had  made  life  a  wearisome  thing  for  him, 

198 


A    LITTLE    ALTERCATION 

to  say  nothing  of  having  ill-treated   his  chief 
crony,  Beauty  Buttons,  but  went  with  a  will. 

The  shriek  which  issued  from  Aunt  Miranda's 
lips  when  she  landed  in  the  soft  grass  of  the 
gully,  did  double  duty,  for  it  scared  the  cow- 
ardly dog  half  out  of  his  wits  and  also  sum- 
moned Mr.  Blair's  groom,  who  came  running  tc 
the  rescue  of  the  irate  lady  sitting  bolt  upright 
in  the  gutter. 

"Are  you   hurt,  ma'am?      Are  you  hurt?' 
demanded   the  man  anxiously  as  he  bent  over 
her. 

"  Hurt !  It  is  a  wonder  that  I'm  not  killed  ! 
Who  owns  that  dog  ?  I  am  going  at  once  to 
have  him  killed.  Stand  back,  I  don't  need  any 
help.  But  that  dog  has  got  to  die!  Take  me 
to  your  master  this  minute,"  and  up  she  rose  to 
stalk  after  the  astonished  man. 


199 


CHAPTEK  XVI 

AUNT    MIRANDA    INTERVIEWS    NERO's    OWNER 

ERE  is  a  lacly  to  speak  with  you,  sir. 
She—" 
"  Stand  aside  !  Get  out  of  my  way  ! 
I  can  say  what  I  wish  to.  Do  you  own  that 
savage  beast  which  sprang  over  your  fence  and 
caused  me  to  be  upset  in  your  gutter?" 

Mr.  Blair  arose  from  his  chair  beside  his 
library  table,  and  stood  speechless,  for  Aunt 
Miranda  had  followed  close  upon  the  groom's 
heels,  and  brushed  him  aside  like  a  fly  when 
he  attempted  to  explain  why  he  was  forcing 
himself  into  his  master's  presence  unan- 
nounced, and  bringing  with  him  an  elderly 
lady  very  much  the  worse  for  her  sudden  spill, 
and  wild  with  rage  at  its  cause. 

900 


AUNT    MIRANDA'S    INTERVIEW 

"  Whom  have  I  the  pleasure  of  seeing  ?" 
began  Mr.  Blair. 

"I  don't  know  that  it  will  make  the  least  differ- 
ence to  you  who  I  am,  and  as  for  the  pleasure 
it  will  give  you,  perhaps  it  will  prove  quite  the 
reverse,  for  I  have  come  to  insist  upon  the  death 
of  that  savage  brute  you  see  fit  to  own  and  allow 
to  rush  from  your  grounds  to  attack  inoffensive 
passers-by.  Such  an  outrage  I  have  never  in  all 
my  life  heard  of.  Suppose  I  had  been  killed  ? 
What  do  you  suppose  my  niece  will  think  when 
that  pony  comes  tearing  home,  as  he  no  doubt 
has  already  done,  without  me  ?  I  tell  you  a  dog 
like  that  cannot  be  allowed  to  live.  Now  how 
soon  will  you  kill  him  ?" 

"Why,  really,  madam, — "  began  Mr.  Blair, 
but  got  no  further,  for — 

"  I'm  not  madam  at  all.  I'm  Miss,  and 
expect  to  remain  so  all  my  days,  for  there  never 
yet  lived  a  man  that  I  would  let  dictate  to  me, 
and  I'm  pretty  capable  of  looking  out  for  myself. 
So  we  will  drop  that  and  attend  to  the  dog 

201 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

question.  Have  you  a  revolver,  and  will  you 
shoot  him  ?  I  sha'n't  leave  this  place  until  I 
see  him  ready  for  burying,"  and  down  she 
planted  herself  upon  a  near-by  chair,  and  began 
settling  her  tossed-about  bonnet. 

If  ever  a  man  looked  nonplused,  Mr.  Blair 
was  that  man,  for  Nero  was  a  very  valuable 
dog,  and,  aside  from  his  dislike  of  Ned,  whom 
he  evidently  took  to  be  a  Newfoundland  dog, 
like  himself,  was  a  faithful,  valued  watch-dog. 
What  in  the  world  to  say,  or  do,  in  order  to 
pacify  this  irate  old  lady  who  had  suddenly 
pounced  upon  him  with  such  an  extraordinary 
demand,  and  how  to  get  her  out  of  his  house 
without  bodily  ejecting  her,  was  a  question  too 
tremendous  for  him  to  answer.  Before  he  could 
collect  his  wits,  and  do  so,  an  interruption  came 
from  an  unexpected  source,  and  he  was  spared 
the  ordeal. 

Meantime  things  were  happening  at  home. 
John  had  just  stepped  from  the  stable  to  go  to 
the  house  when   there  fell   upon   his   ears  the 

202 


AUNT    MIRANDA'S    INTERVIEW 

rapid  clipperty-clip  !  clipperty-clip !  of  rushing 
feet,  and  down  the  road  came  Ned  upon  a  dead 
run,  the  phaeton  spinning  along  behind  him, 
and  the  carriage-rug  flying  out  behind  like  a 
danger-signal. 

"  The  Lord  have  mercy  upon  us,  and  what 
has  tuk  place  wid  the  old  lady  now?"  gasped 
John,  and  he  rushed  toward  the  entrance-gate 
to  call  to  Ned,  and  stop  his  mad  career  before 
he  could  come  to  grief. 

Ned  recognized  the  well-known  voice  in- 
stantly, and  as  though  it  brought  reassurance 
to  him  at  once,  he  slackened  his  pace,  and  a 
second  later  stood  with  his  head  nestled  in 
John's  arms,  while  that  good  soul  patted  and 
comforted  him  as  he  would  have  comforted  a 
frightened  child.  Ned  was  wringing  wet  witli 
perspiration,  and  panting  from  the  combined 
effects  of  fear  and  his  wild  stampede,  and  John 
was  filled  with  indignation  at  the  sight,  for  well 
he  realized  what  a  runaway,  resulting  from  a 
fright,  meant  to  horse  or  j)ony. 

203 


DENIS  E   AND    NED    TOODLES 

"Ah,  me  bonny  lad,  me  bonny  lad,  quiet 
down  now ;  quiet  down  now.  Don't  ye  know 
that  it's  John  what's  got  ye,  and  never  a  sthroke 
af  har-rm  kin  come  near  ye  ?  There  now ; 
there  now.  Faith,  I'd  like  to  have  jist  wan 
word  with  that  mule-headed  old  lady  what  drove 
ye  to  the  village.  She'd  be  afther  rememberin' 
what  John  Noon  an  said  to  her,  I'll  bet  me  last 
cint.  Bad  cess  to  her  and  her  fool  ways,"  and 
John  led  his  charge  toward  the  Birds'  Nest. 
Mrs.  Lombard  and  the  children  had  heard  the 
clatter  of  Ned's  hoofs,  and  now  came  hurrying 
upon  the  scene,  and,  as  though  even  John's  con- 
solation sank  into  insignificance  beside  hers, 
Ned  gave  a  loud  neigh,  and  started  toward 
Denise. 

"  Oh,  my  precious  pony !"  she  cried,  as  she 
put  her  arms  about  his  neck,  and  kissed  the 
damp  muzzle,  never  stopping  to  think  or  care 
whether  Ned  was  as  moist  as  though  he  had 
been  dipped  into  the  river.  "  What  did  Aunt 
Miranda  do  to  you  ?     What  did  she  do  ?"  for 

204 


AUNT    MIRANDA'S    INTERVIEW 

Ned's  mouth  showed  signs  of  his  rough  hand- 
ling, and  it  filled  Denise  with  indignation. 
"Oh,  mamma,  just  look  at  his  poor  mouth  !  It 
is  all  cut  from  heing  jerked  and  pulled  so.  How 
could  Aunt  Miranda  treat  him  so  ?  How  could 
she  ?"  cried  Denise  almost  in  tears,  while  Pokey 
cuddled  and  caressed  the  misused  little  beast 
from  the  opposite  side. 

But  much  as  Mrs.  Lombard  was  distressed  at 
the  sight  of  Ned's  deplorable  condition,  she  was 
still  more  alarmed  at  the  thought  of  what  might 
have  befallen  Ned's  passenger,  and  said  : 

"  We  must  go  at  once  to  learn  what  has  hap- 
pened to  Aunt  Miranda,  and  where  she  is. 
Something  very  serious  may  have  occurred,  and 
I  am  terribly  distressed.  Harness  as  quickly  as 
possible,  John,  and  leave  Ned  to  the  children's 
care.  We  must  go  at  once  to  find  Miss  Lom- 
bard." 

John  flew  to  do  his  mistress's  bidding, 
although  deep  down  in  his  heart  he  harbored 
the  wicked  wish  that  the  object  of  their  search 

\*-D*nise  205 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

had  received  a  wholesome  lesson,  and  that  it 
would  prove  sufficiently  wholesome  to  induce 
her  to  take  her  departure  from  Springdale  at  an 
earlier  date  than  she  had  contemplated. 

In  a  very  few  minutes  the  surrey  stood  at  the 
door,  and  Mrs.  Lombard  took  her  seat  in  it,  to 
be  whirled  toward  the  village.  She  entertained 
little  doubt  of  the  cause  of  the  disaster,  as  Ned 
had  come  home  by  the  dreaded  river-road,  so 
thither  she  made  her  way  as  fast  as  Sunshine 
and  Flash  could  speed  her,  and  that  was  by  no 
means  a  snail-pace.  As  they  drove  along  the 
road  they  discovered  traces  of  Aunt  Miranda  by 
the  way,  for,  after  mailing  her  letter,  she  had 
made  several  small  purchases,  and  these,  with 
the  cushion  of  the  phaeton,  were  dotted  along 
the  road.  When  they  came  to  the  scene  of  her 
spill,  there  lay  the  whip,  and  her  change-purse, 
and  the  story  was  told. 

Turning  directly  into  Mr.  Blair's  grounds, 
Mrs.  Lombard  stopped  at  the  door-step,  and 
was  met  by  Mrs.  Blair,  who  strove  in  vain  to 

206 


AUNT  MIRANDA'S  INTERVIEW 

restrain  her  laughter,  for  she  had  been  sitting  in 
the  adjoining  room,  and  had  overheard  the  con- 
versation her  husband  was  holding  with  his 
angry  guest. 

"  Pray  tell  me  what  has  happened  ?"  began 
Mrs.  Lombard. 

"  Forgive  me  for  smiling,  but  if  you  could 
hear  the  controversy  taking  place  in  the  library 
at  this  moment,  I  am  sure  you  would  smile,  too. 
Miss  Lombard  is  endeavoring  to  convince 
Mr.  Blair  that  Nero  should  be  taken  to  instant 
execution,  and  he,  poor  man,  is  striving  to  collect 
his  wits  sufficiently  to  know  how  to  gratify  her, 
yet  spare  the  dog's  life.  But  I  cannot  tell  you 
how  sorry  we  are  that  such  a  thing  should  have 
happened.  Nero  jumped  the  fence  again,  and 
rushed  upon  Ned.  Patrick  saw  him  and  rushed 
to  the  rescue  in  time  to  see  Miss  Lombard  pull 
Ned  into  the  ditch,  where  she  was  very  gently 
spilled  out  of  the  little  carriage,  and  where  she 
sat  bolt  upright  when  he  ran  to  her  aid.  She 
was  not  in  the  least  hurt,  and  I  hope  that  Ned 

207 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

was  not,  and  she  is  even  now  laying  down  the 
law  to  Mr.  Blair.  Step  into  this  room  a  moment 
and  you  will  excuse  my  mirth,  I  believe." 

They  went  into  the  room  next  to  the  library, 
and  divided  from  it  by  a  heavy  portiere,  just  in 
time  to  hear : 

"  Very  well,  if  you  do  not  shoot  him,  I  shall 
go  straight  back  to  the  village  and  get  an  officer 
to  do  it.  Mark  my  word,  that  dog  will  be  a 
dead  one  before  I  sleep  this  night.  He  is  not 
fit  to  live  !     Not  fit  to  live !" 

"Dear  me,  we  certainly  all  have  our  trials 
in  this  world,"  whispered  Mrs.  Lombard,  as  she 
moved  toward  the  library,  and  a  moment  later 
was  using  all  her  persuasive  powers  to  induce 
Aunt  Miranda  to  come  home  with  her.  After 
many  attempts  to  soothe  that  lady's  ruffled 
spirit,  she  at  last  succeeded  in  bringing  about  a 
truce  between  her  and  Mr.  Blair.  Nero  should 
live  until  Mr.  Lombard's  return  from  town  that 
evening,  and  then  Mr.  Blair  and  Mr.  Lombard 
should  agree  upon  his   fate.     With  this  Miss 

208 


AUNT    MIRANDA'S    INTERVIEW 

Lombard  had  to  feel  satisfied,  and,  with  a  vigor- 
ous shake  of  her  head,  Aunt  Miranda  followed 
her  niece  from  Mr.  Blair's  home,  much  to  that 
harassed  man's  relief.  But  when  the  door-step 
was  gained  a  new  difficulty  confronted  them, 
for  Miss  Lombard  would  not  get  into  the  surrey. 

"  But  it  is  quite  a  long  walk,"  urged  Mrs. 
Lombard,  "  and  after  your  fright  you  ought  not 
tax  yourself." 

"  Tax  myself !  Do  you  think  I  am  an  inva- 
lid ?  It  would  take  a  good  deal  more  than  that 
snip  of  a  horse  to  unnerve  me.  I  am  not  hurt 
a  mite,  but,  my  heart  and  body!  I'd  like  to  have 
a  reckoning  with  that  dog.  I  will,  too,  before 
I  am  done.  JSow  get  into  that  surrey  and  ride 
home  if  you  aren't  equal  to  the  walk.  I  am, 
and  I'll  do  it." 

"  I  shall  walk  with  you,"  said  Mrs.  Lombard 
very  quietly,  but  very  decidedly.  Aunt  Miranda 
gave  one  swift  glance  at  the  sweet-faced,  digni- 
fied lady  beside  her  and  said : 

"  Humph  I" 

209 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

John  grumbled  inwardly  and  drove  slowly 
along  the  road. 

When  Mr.  Lombard  returned  that  evening, 
Aunt  Miranda  pounced  upon  him  with  her 
woes.  He  listened  to  all  she  had  to  say, 
and  then  said  in  his  positive  way,  possibly 
some  of  her  own  determination  had  been  in- 
herited by  him,  and  she  had  met  her  match 
in  him,  even  though  he  was  ordinarily  the 
gentlest  of  men : 

"  So  you  came  to  grief  simply  because  you 
would  have  your  own  way,  and  would  not  listen 
to  the  advice  offered  by  those  who  had  had  some 
experience  with  Mr.  Blair's  dog,  even  though 
they  were  considerably  younger  than  yourself? 
Is  that  the  case,  Aunt  Miranda  ?" 

"  He  has  no  right  to  keep  such  a  dog !" 

"  That  may  all  be  true,  too.  But  how  would 
you  suggest  preventing  him  from  so  doing  if  he 
chooses  ?" 

"  What  is  the  law  for,  I'd  like  to  know  ?" 
demanded  Aunt  Miranda. 

210 


AUNT    MIRANDA'S    INTERVIEW 

"  To  help  Mr.  Blair  keep  a  clog,  and  prevent 
his  neighbors  from  destroying  it,  is  one  of  its 
provinces." 

"And  encourage  him  in  harboring  an  ani- 
mal which  flies  over  his  fence  to  tear  people  to 
pieces  ?"  was  the  indignant  query. 

"  Well,  you  see,  Nero  is  a  pretty  valuable 
dog,  notwithstanding  his  aversion  for  small 
horses  which  insult  him  by  resembling  him  ; 
and,  even  though  I  have  pretty  good  cause  to  feel 
anything  but  friendly  toward  him,  I  cannot  in 
justice  blame  the  dog  for  trying  to  'do'  a  dog 
bigger  than  himself.  True,  I  should  be  glad  to 
convince  him  of  his  error,  and  think  that  I 
shall  do  so  by  taking  Ned  up  there  and  letting 
them  get  acquainted.  At  present  it  is  not  safe 
for  Denise  to  drive  by  there,  and  for  that  reason 
she  has  been  forbidden  to  do  so.  Had  you  been 
willing  to  listen  to  the  warning  given,  you  would 
have  been  spared  a  fright,  and  a  number  of  other 
unpleasant  things,  as  well  as  our  being  spared 
one,  and  having  the  pony  frightened  and  caused 

211 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

to  run  away.  Was  the  game  worth  the  candle  ?" 
and  a  very  quizzical  expression  came  over  Mr. 
Lombard's  face. 

"  I  never  allow  people  younger  than  myself 
to  dictate  to  me !" 

"  We  are  never  too  old  to  give  heed  to  a  kind 
or  a  wise  suggestion,  my  dear  aunt,  and,  even 
though  you  are  my  senior,  I  shall  take  the  lib- 
erty of  advising  you  to  do  so  when  it  is  liable  to 
prove  for  your  own  good." 

Now  Aunt  Miranda  hated  to  be  talked  to  in 
this  manner  as  she  hated  the  evil  one  himself, 
and  up  she  bounced,  crying : 

"Lewis  Lombard,  I  have  spanked  you  more 
than  once  in  your  life,  and  I  don't  propose  to 
take  your  impertinence  now.  Your  father  was 
always  as  weak  as  water,  and  that  is  the  reason 
he  had  such  a  headstrong  son." 

"  We  will  not  discuss  my  father,  Aunt 
Miranda,"  replied  Mr.  Lombard  in  a  tone  which 
caused  Aunt  Miranda  to  recall  the  gentle,  dig- 
nified  man    whom    she    had    detested   simply 

212 


AUNT    MIRANDA'S    INTERVIEW 

because  she  could  not  rule  him,  but  who  was 
over  the  courteous  gentleman  to  her. 

"  Well,  thank  goodness  I  shall  not  have  to 
remain  in  a  town  which  harbors  such  a  beast. 
I  shall  leave  day  after  to-morrow." 

And  two  days  later  Aunt  Miranda,  her  parrot, 
and  her  bundles  were  conveyed  to  the  station  by 
one  of  the  village  hacks,  as  she  still  stoutly 
refused  to  enter  the  surrey. 


213 


CHAPTER  XVII 

NED    DISGRACES     HIMSELF,    BUT     MAKES    AMENDS 

THE  first  of  September  came  all  too  quickly. 
Pokey's  trunk  was  packed,  and  Pokey, 
with  many  regrets,  and  many  yearnings 
for  a  longer  stay  in  her  beloved  Springdale,  set 
her  face  toward  Brooklyn,  and  school.  As 
usual,  Denise  was  forlorn  for  several  days,  but 
it  is  hard  to  remain  doleful  when  one  is  but 
twelve  years  old,  and  the  world  is  a  very  lovely 
place  indeed.  Her  own  studies  would  not  be 
resumed  until  October,  when  the  cool,  crisp  air 
would  turn  work  into  pleasure,  and  the  young- 
brain,  fresh  and  keenly  receptive  after  its  long- 
rest,  would  be  ready  to  grasp  and  retain  new 
ideas  and  new  impressions. 

During  Pokey's  visit   Denise   had   scarcely 
£14 


NED    DISGRACES    HIMSELF 

ridden  Ned  at  all,  but  now  that  she  was  alone 
once  more,  riding  presented  a  novelty,  all  the 
more  alluring  because  she  had  not  indulged  in  it 
for  several  weeks.  The  day  after  Pokey's 
departure  Denise  had  Ned  saddled,  and  started 
off  for  a  canter.  The  little  beast  seemed  to  enjoy 
the  outing  quite  as  much  as  she  did,  and  swung 
along  with  the  easy  motion  so  natural  to  him 
when  under  the  saddle.  They  chose  a  pretty 
road  leading  along  the  river-bank,  but  in  the 
opposite  direction  from  the  village,  as  Denise  did 
not  wish  to  take  any  chances  with  Nero,  and,  so 
far  as  she  knew,  no  belligerent  animals  lived 
along  the  road  she  and  Ned  were  following  so 
happily.  But,  alas !  how  easily  our  most  care- 
fully laid  plans  can  go  amiss. 

Denise  rode  gracefully  and  easily,  and  it 
required  something  rather  out  of  the  ordinary  to 
unseat  her.  They  were  cantering  along  beneath 
the  beautiful  elms  which  bordered  the  road  and 
cast  their  shadows  upon  it,  making  it  sweet  and 
cool  that  delightful  morning,  when,  just  behind 

215 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

the  hedge  dividing  it  from  a  gentleman's 
grounds,  there  arose  a  wild  yapping  which 
caused  Ned  to  shake  his  head  as  though  he  were 
disgusted  with  such  a  discordant  sound  when  all 
was  so  silent  and  restful  about  them. 

"  Do  we  know  that  dog?"  Denise  asked,  as 
though  Ned  were  able  to  understand  and  reply 
to  her  question.  But  such  questions  were  not 
unusual.  She  and  Ned  held  amazing  conver- 
sations, each  in  a  language  well  understood  by 
the  other.  Ned  tossed  his  head  up  and  down 
in  an  irritable  sort  of  manner,  as  though  he 
were  trying  to  say,  "  I  don't  think  that  he  is 
one  of  our  friends,"  and  somewhat  increased  his 
pace.  The  hedge  was  a  high  one,  and  they 
could  not  see  over  it,  but,  before  they  had  gone 
ten  yards,  a  fluffy,  clumsy  puppy  wriggled 
through  a  gap  just  behind  them,  and  came,  tear- 
ing after  them  as  fast  as  he  could  run. 

Now  neither  Denise  nor  Ned  had  any  objec- 
tions to  puppies  in  general,  or  to  this  one  in 
particular,  and  would  have  attended  strictly  to 

216 


NED    DISGRACES    HIMSELF 

their  own  business  had  he  only  seen  fit  to 
attend  to  his,  but  this  puppy  had  recently 
arrived  upon  the  scene,  and  felt  that  he  had 
much  to  discover.  His  master  had  bought  him 
at  a  dog  fancier's  in  New  York,  where  the 
greater  part  of  his  life  had  been  spent  in  very 
limited  quarters,  and  his  walks  abroad  had  been 
taken  at  the  end  of  a  chain.  Now,  joy  to  tell ! 
he  had  ten-acre  grounds  to  cavort  about  in,  but, 
like  many  another  creature  who  suddenly  finds 
himself  surrounded  by  almost  boundless  luxury, 
after  narrow  limitations,  he  wanted  an  ell  when 
a  very  liberal  inch  had  been  voluntarily  given 
him. 

So  he  proceeded  to  take  it  by  wriggling 
under  the  hedge,  and,  once  out  upon  the  high- 
way, there  he  beheld  a  sight  which  instantly 
banished  what  small  remnant  of  common  sense 
remained  to  him,  and  he  set  about  having  a 
royal  good  time. 

If  Denise  had  any  notion  of  getting  out  of 
his  blundering  way,  he  had  no  idea  of  allowing 

217 

1 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

her  to  do  so,  and,  almost  before  a  breath  could 
be  drawn,  his  legs  and  Ned's  were  being  tied 
up  in  hard  knots. 

"  Yap,  yap,"  barked  the  tormenting  little 
beast,  making  wild  grabs  at  Ned's  flowing  tail, 
or  snapping  at  his  fetlocks. 

"Get  away,  you  stupid  thing!"  cried  Denise, 
reaching  over  to  give  him  a  well-merited  lash 
with  her  riding-whip.  But  she  might  as  well 
have  tried  to  hit  a  will-o'-the-wisp,  for,  clumsy 
as  he  seemed,  that  vexatious  little  beast  was 
wonderfully  agile,  and  seemed  to  regard  the 
action  as  part  of  the  fun.  Helter-skelter, 
around  and  about  he  scurried,  one  minute  in 
front  of  Ned,  the  next  minute  snapping  at  his 
heels,  until  it  was  no  wonder  that  such  a  well- 
conducted  animal's  patience  became  exhausted, 
and  he  felt  that  this  tomfoolery  had  gone  far 
enough. 

"  Of  all  the  crazy  things  I  have  ever  seen,  you 
certainly  are  the  craziest!"  exclaimed  Denise, 
doing  her  best  to  get  unsnarled  from  the  little 

218 


NED    DISGRACES    HIMSELF 

wretch.  "  Go  !"  she  cried,  giving  the  word  that 
Ned  understood  so  well,  and  was  always  so 
quick  to  respond  to.     And  "go,"  he  did. 

With  one  wild  leap,  he  bounded  straight  over 
his  tormentor,  and  made  a  dash  for  freedom, 
but  even  as  he  sprang  forward  that  miserable 
puppy  got  in  the  last  stroke,  which  settled  mat- 
ters in  short  order,  for  he  gave  a  final  vicious 
snap  at  Ned's  heels,  and  his  sharp  teeth  pricked 
like  needles. 

That  was  too  much  !  Ned  forgot  the  beloved 
burden  he  was  carrying,  forgot  that  Denise  was 
somewhat  off  her  guard,  and  more  liable  to 
become  unseated  than  she  would  ordinarily  have 
been.  Out  flew  two  hind  feet  to  administer  one 
and  one  very  telling,  vicious  kick  at  that  hate- 
ful little  beast,  which  caught  him  fairly  and 
squarely  in  his  ribs,  and  sent  him  howling  back 
to  hi::  friends.  But,  alack-a-day!  it  accom- 
plished other  things  also,  for  away  shot  Denise 
clear  and  clean  over  Ned's  head,  to  land  in  a 
heap  in  the  dust  of  the  road,  where  she  lay  for 

219 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

a  moment  half  stunned  by  the  shock,  although 
not  seriously  hurt. 

If  ever  an  animal's  face  expressed  consterna- 
tion and  contrition  Ned's  certainly  did  then, 
and,  with  one  wild  neigh,  he  rushed  up  to  his 
beloved  little  mistress  just  as  a  carriage  rapidly 
approached  from  the  other  direction.  Now 
some  people  assert  with  a  good  bit  of  assurance 
that  animals  do  not  think,  particularly  that 
horses  do  not.  Nevertheless,  what  I  am  about  to 
tell  you  is  as  true  as  anything  in  this  world  can 
be.  Ned  stood  beside  his  prone  rider,  his  eyes 
wild  with  fright  and  quivering  in  every  limb. 
That  carriage  was  coming  toward  her  as  fast  as 
ever  it  could  come,  and  why,  oh  !  why,  didn't 
she  get  out  of  its  way  ?  It  would  certainly  run 
over  her,  and  those  big,  prancing  horses  would 
crush  something  which  he  loved  better  than 
anything  in  this  world.  They  must  not !  No, 
they  should  not  do  it,  and  he  must  prevent  them 
if  possible.  Poor  little  Ned  Toodles  could  not 
understand  that  the  very  haste  with  which  the 

220 


NED    DISGRACES    HIMSELF 

carriage  approached  meant  succor  for  Denise, 
for  the  occupants  had  witnessed  the  whole  scene, 
and  were  filled  with  dismay  at  its  ending. 

It  was  almost  upon  them  when  Ned  gave 
another  neigh,  and  did  that  which  caused  the 
lady  in  the  carriage  to  clasp  her  hands  together 
and  almost  scream  aloud.  He  stepped  directly 
over  Denise,  and  stood  with  his  front  and  hind 
legs  astride  her,  therehy  making  it  impos- 
sible for  the  big  horses  to  harm  her  without 
first  crushing  him.  The  brave  little  head  was 
raised  in  defiance,  and  the  nostrils  snorted  a 
challenge  to  those  great  creatures  which  he 
thought  were  about  to  trample  his  mistress 
beneath  their  feet.  Dear  little  Ned  Toodles,  you 
have  been  dust  these  many  years,  but  your  mis- 
tress has  never  forgotten  that  brave  deed,  and 
her  eyes  fill  with  tears  when  she  recalls  this 
proof  of  your  devotion  to  her. 

The  coachman  drew  up  his  horses  beside  the 
fallen  girl  and  her  courageous  little  horse,  the 
lady  hastily  descended  from  the  carriage,  and  a 

15—  Denise.  221 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

second  later  held  Denise  in  her  arms,  Ned  nos- 
ing and  nickering  over  her  as  though  he  were 
trying  to  express  his  sorrow  and  console  her  for 
her  fall. 

"  You  darling  !"  exclaimed  the  lady,  sparing 
a  hand  to  rub  his  velvety  nose,  even  though  she 
was  seriously  alarmed  for  Denise.  But  Denise 
was  not  injured,  and  presently  opened  her  eyes 
to  blink  at  Ned  and  look  with  surprise  at  the 
lady  holding  her. 

"Why,  what  happened  to  me?"  she  cried, 
sitting  straight  up  and  looking  at  those  gath- 
ered about  her. 

"  Nothing  serious,  I  hope,"  answered  the 
lady.  "  You  took  a  header  over  your  pony's 
neck,  and  it  stunned  you  for  a  moment.  But 
he  took  such  wonderful  care  of  you  that  no 
great  harm  has  come  to  you,  I  think." 

"  Oh !  I  fell  off  when  Ned  kicked  at  that  horrid 
little  dog,  didn't  I  ?  But  I  am  not  hurt  a  bit, 
although  I  feel  sort  of  all  shaken  up  and  tossed 
about,"  said  Denise,  as  she  got  upon  her  feet 

222 


NED    DISGRACES    HIMSELF 

and  began  settling  her  dusty  habit.  Ned 
scrooched  close  up  to  her,  as  though  striving 
to  apologize,  and  Denise  put  her  arm  about  his 
neck. 

"  Poor  little  Ned  Toodles,  did  you  think  you 
had  killed  your  missie  ?"  she  asked,  as  she  rested 
her  still  dizzy  head  upon  his  shaggy  mane. 
"  No,  I'm  not  a  bit  dead,  and  when  I  get  my 
wits  we  will  go  home  and  tell  mamma  all  about 
it  before  some  one  else  has  a  chance  to  do  it, 
and  frighten  her  half  to  death.  Thank  you 
ever  so  much  for  helping  me,"  she  said  to  the 
lady. 

"  We  are  more  than  glad  that  we  came  along 
just  as  we  did,  even  though  you  seem  to  have  a 
very  efficient  protector  in  your  pony.  It  was 
the  most  wonderful  thing  I  have  ever  seen. 
Won't  you  get  into  the  carriage  with  me  and 
tell  me  something  about  yourself  and  him  ?  I 
am  a  stranger  in  Springdale,  but  I  am  sure  I 
have  stumbled  upon  one  of  its  attractions." 

"Ned  is  considered  quite  remarkable,"  an- 
223 

I 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

swered  Denise,  never  for  a  moment  appropriat- 
ing even  a  portion  of  the  compliment.  "  We 
have  been  so  much  together  since  I  got  him  two 
years  ago  that  I  half  believe  he  has  grown  to 
be  just  like  folks.  But  I  don't  believe  that  I 
would  better  get  into  the  carriage.  I  feel  nearly 
all  right  now,  and  if  mamma  were  to  see  me 
coming  home  in  the  carriage  and  Ned  following 
it,  she  might  be  frightened.  Ned  won't  spill  me 
again,  and  it  wasn't  so  much  his  fault  anyway  ; 
if  I  had  been  thinking  what  I  was  about  I  never 
would  have  fallen,  for  he  often  jumps  a  fence  or 
ditch  and  I  never  think  of  spilling  off.  But 
that  puppy  drove  all  my  wits  out  of  my  head, 
I  believe  ;  the  horrid  little  thing !" 

"  Well,  we  will  drive  along  beside  you,  at  all 
events,  and  if  you  do  not  feel  just  right  you  can 
dismount  and  come  into  the   carriage  with  me." 

"Thank  you  very  much,  but  I  don't  think 
that  I  shall  have  to,"  and,  turning  to  Ned,  she 
cuddled  and  stroked  him  before  mounting  him 
again.     Ned  met  her  more  than  half-way,  and 

224 


NED    DISGRACES    HIMSELF 

the  lady  smiled  at  the  pretty  bit  of  by-play  she 
was  watching,  although  the  actors  were  entirely 
unconscious  that  they  were  doing  anything  out 
of  the  ordinary. 

Leading  Ned  to  the  stepping-stone  beside  the 
road,  Denise  settled  herself  upon  his  back, 
although, ordinarily,  she  would  not  have  required 
any  aid  in  mounting.  But  her  head  was  still 
unsteady,  and  the  usual  spring  to  her  seat  did 
not  seem  as  easy  a  thing  as  it  ordinarily  would 
have  seemed. 

They  walked  along  side  by  side,  the  lady 
keeping  a  watchful  eye  upon  Denise,  and  feel- 
ing greatly  entertained  by  her.  As  though  to 
make  full  amends  for  his  temporary  lapse  from 
good  behavior,  Ned  Toodles  pattered  along 
beside  the  carriage  as  sedately  as  any  old  stager 
Elight  have  done,  and  when  they  came  to 
Denise's  home  stopped  for  her  to  bid  her  friend 
farewell.  But  Mrs.  Lombard  was  walking 
about  the  grounds,  and  only  one  glance  from 
that  mother's  eye  was  needed  to  discover  that 

««5 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

something  had  happened  to  that  very  precious 
little  daughter,  and  she  hastened  to  the  gate. 
Then  followed  explanations,  and  began  an  ac- 
quaintance which,  ere  long,  ripened  into  a  very 
warm  friendship,  and  Ned's  first  misdemeanor 
resulted  in  something  very  delightful  for  his 
little  mistress  and  her  mother. 


22& 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

A    BIRTHDAY    FROLIC    AND    WHAT   CAME    OF    IT 

" /~\  H,  what  fun  !  Are  we  all  going?  And 
I  I  way  down  to  Summit  Ridge?  Who 
planned  it  ?  Are  we  to  stay  all  day- 
long ?"  were  the  questions  which  poured  rap- 
idly from  Denise's  lips  one  bright  October  morn- 
ing when  Hart  came  rushing  over  to  ask  if  she 
might  accompany  a  party  of  young  people  upon 
an  outing  planned  for  the  coming  week.  He 
had  been  away  from  Springdale  for  several  weeks, 
reveling  in  the  delights  of  the  seashore,  but  his 
family  had  now  returned  for  the  winter,  and  his 
studies,  as  well  as  Denise's,  had  commenced. 

Mrs.  Lombard  stood  beside  them  listening, 
and  smiling  at  the  eager  faces  before  her.  Pres- 
ently she  said  : 

227 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

"  Which  day  next  week  have  you  chosen  ?" 
"  We  had  to  choose  Saturday,  you  know,  on 
account  of  school.  We  aren't  all  so  lucky  as 
Denise,  having  a  governess  who  will  let  us  off 
at  a  pinch,"  and  Hart  looked  mischievously  up 
into  Mrs.  Lombard's  face. 

She  reached  over  to  give  a  tweak  to  his  curly 
"  forelock,"  and  repty :  "  Don't  be  so  sure  of 
that.  She  is  not  let  off  so  easily  as  you  seem  to 
think.  After  such  a  long  holiday  we  expect 
even  more  wonderful  things.  So  the  frolic  is 
planned  for  Saturday  next.  Was  it  pie- 
arranged  ?" 

"  Why  no  ;  what  do  you  mean  ?" 
"  Oh,  oh  !     I  know  !     It  will  the  thirteenth, 
and  my  birthday  !     Isn't  that  just  splendid?" 

"Honest?  Oh,  I  say,  that's  just  dandy, 
isn't  it  ?  No,  I  didn't  know  a  thing  about  it, 
and  I  don't  believe  the  others  did,  either.  At 
any  rate,  they  didn't  say  a  word  about  it.  But 
it's  great  luck.  Say,  we  sort  of  stumble  on  each 
other's  festive  days,  don't  we  ?     Do  you  remem- 

228 


A     BIRTHDAY     FROLIC 

ber  how  you  hit  upon  mine  last  spring  ?     Then 
I'll  tell  them  you  will  go,  of  course?" 

"Of  course  I'll  go  ;  won't  I,  Moddie?" 

"  First  a  positive  assertion,  and  then  a  doubt ; 
'  he  who  hesitates  is  lost,' "  quoted  Mrs.  Lom- 
bard, laughing. 

"  Then  I  won't  hesitate  ;  I'll  go"  and  Denise 
ran  prancing  off  to  the  Birds'  Nest,  followed  by 
Hart,  for  they  had  many  things  to  talk  over 
after  a  separation  of  six  weeks,  and  much  to 
plan  for  the  coming  picnic. 

The  Saturday  named  dawned  clear  and  frosty, 
promising  in  the  form  of  many  hickory  nuts  and 
chestnuts,  an  extra  treat  for  the  party  gathering 
so  merrily  at  Hart's  home.  Not  that  they  lit- 
erally gathered  at  dawn,  but  it  was  not  long 
after  eight  o'clock  when  the  first  horseman  was 
seen  coming  along  the  road  to  the  meeting- 
place.  There  were  to  be  fourteen  in  the  party, 
besides  the  older  people  who  went  along  to  guard 
against  accidents,  but  who,  as  it  later  proved, 
did  not  succeed  in  so  doing  after  all. 

229 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

Mrs.  Murray  and  Mrs.  Lombard  drove  in  the 
former's  carriage,  and  carried  a  good  portion  of 
the  refreshments,  but  each  boy  and  girl  rode 
their  own  beastie,  whether  it  was  a  pony  or  a 
horse,  for  Spring-dale's  young  folk  were  pretty 
well  supplied  with  mounts  of  one  sort  or  another, 
and  could,  when  occasion  called  for  it,  turn  out 
quite  a  brave  array  of  equestrians.  There  were 
horses  and  ponies  of  all  sorts  and  kinds  gath- 
ered in  Mrs.  Murray's  driveway  that  beautiful 
October  morning,  and  they  possessed  as  varied 
dispositions  as  the  boys  and  girls  mounted  upon 
them.  Ned  and  Pinto  were,  of  course,  special 
cronies,  and  rubbed  noses,  and  whispered  secrets 
as  only  old  cronies  can.  They  tolerated  the 
other  horses,  but  did  not  encourage  familiarities, 
and  when  one  overgrown  specimen  of  horsedom, 
noted  especially  for  his  pronounced  Roman  nose, 
and  monstrous  feet,  undertook  to  force  his  way 
between  them  while  they  were  comparing  notes 
about  the  flavor  of  their  morning  oats,  they 
promptly  united  forces  and  administered  justice, 

230 


Denise. 


"THEY   HAD    MANY    THINGS    TO    TALK    OVER. 


A    BIRTHDAY    FROLIC 

thereby  creating  a  wholesome  respect  for  small 
horses  in  that  misguided  animal's  brains,  and  a 
lively  diversion  for  their  respective  owners,  who 
rushed  to  settle  the  disagreement. 

But  all  was  ready  in  the  course  of  half  an 
hour,  and  away  they  went,  as  merry  a  party  as 
ever  set  forth  for  Summit  Ridge,  a  plateau  upon 
the  summit  of  South  Mountain,  where  many 
years  before  a  gentleman  had  erected  a  beautiful 
home  and  planted  extensive  orchards.  It  was  an 
ideal  spot  for  such  an  orchard,  and  the  trees  had 
flourished  marvelously,  bearing  pears,  plums, 
and  apples,  such  as  were  not  to  be  found  for 
miles  around.  The  gentleman  had  lived  there 
until  the  death  of  his  wife  several  years  before, 
and  then  left  the  place  abruptly,  never  to  re- 
turn. Its  remoteness  from  all  other  dwellings, 
and  the  difficulty  of  reaching  it,  kept  most 
people  from  visiting  the  place,  and  it  was  only 
at  long  intervals  that  the  residents  of  Springdale 
plucked  heart  of  grace  and  clambered  up  the 
rough,  neglected  mountain-road  which  led  to  it. 

231 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

During  October  the  winter  pippins  and  sev- 
eral other  varieties  of  winter  apples  proved  a 
strong  inducement  to  the  young  people,  and 
hardly  an  autumn  passed  without  a  party  being 
made  up  to  form  a  raid  upon  Mr.  Powell's 
orchard,  and  carry  off  apples  enough  to  keep 
them  supplied  for  months. 

Up  the  mountain  scrambled  the  riders,  the 
horses  harnessed  to  the  carriage  scrambling 
along  behind,  and  doing  their  best  not  to  get  left 
altogether.  Denise,  Hart,  and  one  of  their  young 
friends,  who  had  recently  become  the  possessor 
of  a  little  mustang,  sent  her  by  her  uncle,  who 
had  a  ranch  in  the  West,  and  who  assured  her 
that  Comanche  was  all  that  she  could  wish  for, 
were  leading  the  party,  scrambling  up  the  steep 
places,  racing  along  the  level  ones,  and  picking 
their  way  down  the  descents.  Flossy  Bennett 
was  a  bright,  pretty  girl,  but  one  wonderfully 
fond  of  her  own  way,  and,  once  having  taken  it 
into  her  head  to  do  a  certain  thing,  it  was  no 
easy  matter  to  persuade  her  to  do  differently. 

232 


A    BIRTHDAY    FROLIC 

Two  hours'  hard  scrambling  and  picking  their 
way  at  last  brought  them  to  the  old  house  high 
up  upon  the  mountain,  and  all  dismounted  to 
unsaddle  their  mounts,  and  tether  them  to  the 
rustic  fence  which  ran  all  about  the  neglected 
grounds,  separating  them  from  the  orchards 
beyond.  Then  came  the  preparation  of  their 
luncheon,  and  rigging  up  a  tripod  to  swing  the 
kettle.  After  the  merry  feast  ended,  all 
repaired  to  the  orchard  to  fill  every  sort  and 
size  of  bag  with  the  bright  and  luscious  apples, 
which  were  almost  breaking  the  branches  with 
their  weight. 

But  October  days  are  short  ones,  and,  when 
three  o'clock  came,  the  preparations  "for  the 
homeward  journey  were  begun.  Most  of  the 
boys  and  girls  put  their  bags  in  the  carriage, 
although  some  of  them  tied  them  in  the  middle 
and  placed  them  across  their  saddle-bows.  This 
plan  worked  well  enough  where  the  horses,  or 
ponies,  were  accustomed  to  such  liberties,  but  in 
some  cases  it  was  an  entirely  new  experience, 

233 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

and  the   mountain-road  was    not  a  wise  place 
upon  which  to  make  experiments. 

Flossy  Bennett's  little  mustang,  although 
apparently  as  gentle  as  a  kitten,  seemed  strongly 
disinclined  to  have  her  bag  of  apples  strapped 
upon  his  withers,  as  his  mistress  wished  to  have 
it  strapped,  and  fussed  and  fidgeted  when  one 
of  the  boys  undertook  to  fasten  it  there.  There 
was  no  one  with  the  girl  who  was  in  a  position 
to  say  either  }^ea  or  nay,  for  she  had  joined  the 
party  just  as  many  of  the  others  had  joined  it, 
with  the  understanding  that  Mrs.  Murray  was, 
for  the  time  being,  both  hostess  and  chaperon. 

Seeing  how  restless  the  pony  seemed,  Mrs. 
Murray  came  over  to  where  the  children  were, 
and  suggested  that  Flossy  put  her  bag  of  apples 
in  the  carriage  with  the  others,  but  Flossy  did 
not  care  to  act  upon  the  suggestion,  and  Mrs. 
Murray,  who  did  not  possess  Mrs.  Lombard's 
quiet  dignity,  and  the  power  to  control  with  a 
firm,  though  a  gentle  word,  had  rather  an  ani- 
mated discussion  with  the  young  lady. 

234 


A     BIRTHDAY     FROLIC 

"You  must  not  try  to  carry  those  apples  in 
that  way,  Flossy.  It  is  dangerous,  and  I  cannot 
allow  it,"  she  said  rather  warmly,  when  sugges- 
tions failed  to  dissuade  Flossy  from  having  her 
own  way. 

"  He  has  just  got  to  carry  them  that  way, 
Mrs.  Murray.  It  is  all  nonsense.  The  other 
ponies  are  carrying  the  bags,  so  why  shouldn't 
he?  Uncle  Frank  said  that  he  was  thoroughly 
broken,  and  if  he  is,  he  will  do  what  I  wish  him 
to  do." 

"  But  this  is  neither  the  time  nor  the  place 
to  make  him,  and  I  insist  upon  your  putting 
that  bag  into  my  carriage  at  once.  I  am  aston- 
ished that  you  presume  to  argue  the  point  with 
some  one  older  than  yourself.  Give  me  that  bag 
at  once.  You  are  keeping  the  entire  party 
waiting.     Do  you  hear  me  ?" 

Now  Flossy's  disposition  was  one  which  had 
never  encountered,  and  never  could  brook, 
downright  opposition.  Her  mother  had  died 
when  she  was  a  tiny  child,  and  her  father  had 

\6-Denise.  235 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

either  indulged  or  neglected  her,  as  the  occa- 
sion prompted.  Having  been  left  to  the  care 
of  the  maids,  and  a  long-suffering,  rather  weak 
governess,  it  was  no  wonder  that  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  Flossy  Bennett  had  pretty  strong  ideas 
of  her  own,  and  carried  them  out  whenever  she 
could. 

"  Excuse  me,  Mrs.  Murray,  hut  I  think  it  is, 
and  I  shall  carry  the  bag  right  here.  Co- 
manche may  as  well  submit  at  once,  and,  as  you 
see,  he  is  behaving  properly  now ;"  and,  with  a. 
defiant  toss  of  her  golden  head,  Miss  Flossy 
braced  herself  in  her  side-saddle  with  an  air  of, 
"  How  do  you  intend  to  stop  me  if  I  choose  to 
do  it  ?" 

Meantime,  the  other  members  of  the  party 
were  gathered  about  listening  to  the  controversy 
with  varying  emotions.  Mrs.  Lombard  had 
seen  and  heard  it  all,  but  had  not,  of  course, 
taken  any  part  in  it.  Now  Mrs.  Murray  turned 
to  her  and  said  impatiently  : 

"  Emilie,  will  you  come  here  and  see  if  you 
236 


A    BIRTHDAY    FROLIC 

can  dissuade  this  headstrong  child  from  taking 
her  life  in  her  hands,  as  she  seems  determined 
to  do  ?  I  am  out  of  all  patience  to  think  that 
she  will  insist  upon  having  her  own  way  about 
such  a  trifle  when  it  is  so  liable  to  prove 
disastrous  to  her.  I  am  surprised  at  you, 
Flossy." 

Now  if  there  was  one  person  upon  earth  for 
whom  Flossy  entertained  a  warm  regard,  and 
whose  good  opinion  she  valued,  it  was  Mrs. 
Lombard's.  Had  fate  ordained  that  she  should 
have  been  placed  under  such  a  wise  training  as 
that  lady  would  have  exercised  over  her,  a  very 
different  girl  would  have  sat  upon  Comanche's 
back  than  the  one  who  sat  there  at  that 
moment,  and  whose  face  was  the  very  picture  of 
perversity  and  defiance.  Deep  down  in  the 
girl's  heart  was  a  strong  desire  to  do  as  she  felt 
sure  Mrs.  Lombard,  as  well  as  Mrs.  Murray, 
wished  to  have  her,  and  had  the  first  word  been 
spoken  by  the  former,  there  would  never  have 
been  a  sign  of  discord.     Now,  however,  the  first 

237 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

misstep  had  been  taken,  and  she  felt  that  she 
would  lose  prestige  if  she  drew  back. 

Mrs.  Lombard  walked  over  to  where  the  dis- 
putants were  standing,  and,  lay i n ^  her  hand 
gently  upon  Flossy's,  which  grasped  her  reins, 
said,  in  her  sweet,  gentle  voice : 

"  Will  you  not  oblige  Mrs.  Murray  by  yield- 
ing this  point  to  her  wishes  ?  I  should  be  much 
gratified  if  you  would  do  so,  as  it  will  spare  us 
all  much  uneasiness." 

"I  should  be  sorry  to  cause  any  one  uneasi- 
ness, Mrs.  Lombard,  and  would  hate  to  make 
you  anxious,  but  there  really  isn't  the  least 
danger.  Uncle  Frank  said  that  I  could  do  any- 
thing with  Comanche,  and  all  he  needed  was 
firmness.  I  shall  ride  slowly,  and  you  know 
that  I  have  ridden  all  my  life." 

Mrs.  Lombard  did  not  say  another  word,  but 
looked  steadily  into  the  girl's  eyes  for  just  one 
moment,  with  a  look  which  she  remembered  for 
a  long  time  after,  and  never  ceased  to  wish  she 
had  heeded.     Then,  returning  to  Mrs.  Murray's 

238 


A    BIRTHDAY    FROLIC 

carriage,  she  took  her  seat  in  it,  saying  to  that 
lady : 

"  I  think  that  we  would  better  start  without 
more  delay.     It  is  growing  late." 


CHAPTER  XIX 

DENISE    TO    THE    RESCUE 

DOWN  the  rough  mountain-road  wound 
the  party,  Hart,  as  usual,  well  in  the 
lead,  for  Pinto  hated  to  travel  behind 
the  others,  but  this  time  Denise  kept  close  by 
the  carriage,  and,  for  some  reason  best  under- 
stood by  herself,  Flossy  chose  to  remain  beside 
her. 

The  greater  part  of  the  journey  had  been 
accomplished  without  mishap,  and,  even  though 
he  had  from  time  to  time  demonstrated  his  dis- 
like of  the  bumping  bag  of  apples  by  tossing 
his  head  from  side  to  side,  Comanche  had 
behaved  far  better  than  the  older  members  of 
the  party  had  expected  he  would,  and  they  were 
beginning  to  breathe    freer.     But,  alas!    it  is 

240 


DENISE    TO    THE     RESCUE 

never  safe  to  feel  too  sanguine,  for  the  "  slip  " 
comes  when  we  least  look  for  it. 

"  Who's  for  a  race  ?"  cried  one  of  the  boys, 
when  the  last  plateau  was  reached,  and  a  long 
stretch  of  smooth,  inviting  wood-road  stretched 
out  before  them.  They  were  barely  two  miles 
from  home,  and  the  horses  knew  that  stables 
and  oats  were  not  far  away. 

"  We  are  !  we  are !"  was  quickly  shouted  from 
all  sides,  and,  before  a  word  of  remonstrance 
could  be  spoken  by  the  occupants  of  the  carriage, 
away  dashed  the  riders,  hot  upon  the  track  of  the 
leader.  As  the  other  ponies  and  horses  sprang 
forward,  Comanche  gave  a  plunge  which  caused 
the  bag  of  apples  upon  his  withers  to  shift  dan- 
gerously to  one  side,  and  nearly  fall  to  the 
ground.  Flossy  quickly  changed  her  reins  to  one 
hand  and  with  her  free  one  made  a  wild  grasp  to 
steady  the  bag,  just  as  Mrs.  Lombard  cried  in  a 
tone  very  unlike  that  generally  used  by  her : 

"  Flossy,  stop  !  That  bag  must  be  put  into 
the  surrey !" 

241 


DENIS  E    AND    NED    TOODLES 

Too  late.  Comanche  was  off  like  the  wind, 
the  bag  pounding  and  banging  upon  his  sides, 
and  his  young  rider  tugging  with  all  her  might 
to  hold  him  in.  The  other  boys  and  girls  were 
not  aware  of  the  serious  situation  just  behind 
them,  and  the  cry  of  alarm  which  rose  from  the 
carriage  as  the  pony  sped  forward  was  entirely 
drowned  in  the  shouts  of  laughter  and  the  chal- 
lenges called  from  one  to  another  of  the  racers. 

Denise  gave  one  terrified  look  at  her  mother, 
and  then  there  settled  upon  her  face  the  look 
which  showed  her  Lombard  determination  once 
she  recognized  the  necessity  for  prompt  and 
decisive  action. 

Comanche  was  larger  by  at  least  two  hands 
than  Ned,  but  nothing  like  so  sure-footed,  for 
Ned  had  come  straight  from  the  mountains  of 
Wales,  where  for  generations  his  ancestors  had 
scrambled  over  the  wild  mountain-passes  and 
kept  their  footing  like  goats.  Comanche  had 
spent  his  entire  life  upon  the  grassy  plains,  and 
until  within  the  past  three  months  had  never 

242 


DENISE    TO     THE     RESCUE 

seen  a  mountain,  much  less  scrambled  over 
one. 

What  Denise  meant  to  do  she  could  not 
have  told,  but  she  felt  that  she  must  keep 
beside  that  fleeing  pony  as  long  as  Ned  Toodles 
could  run.  For  a  pony  of  his  size,  Ned  was 
wonderfully  fleet  of  foot,  and  their  perfect 
mutual  understanding  made  many  things  pos- 
sible for  them  which  would  have  been  quite 
impossible  for  an  animal  and  rider  less  in 
sympathy. 

"  Go  I"  said  Denise  in  a  low,  tense  voice,  and 
"  go  "  Ned  did,  bounding  along  the  mountain- 
road  like  a  roebuck,  and  keeping  neck  and  neck 
with  the  wild  little  gray,  which  seemed  to  have 
lost  his  senses  altogether. 

As  they  drew  near  the  end  of  the  level  road 
the  other  riders  began  to  check  their  horses, 
and  prepare  for  the  last  short  but  very  steep 
descent,  leading  into  the  town.  But,  even 
though  .Flossy  tugged  with  the  strength  of 
desperation  upon  his  reins,  she  failed  to  lessen 

243 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

the  speed  with  which  he  was  nearing  that  dan- 
gerous bit  of  road.  Had  she  held  the  curb  rein 
her  chances  would  have  been  greater,  but  she 
had  let  it  fall  when  she  steadied  her  apples,  and 
had  not  been  able  to  regain  it.  Ned  instinct- 
ively slackened  his  pace  as  he  drew  near  the 
down  grade,  but  Flossy's  pony  was  less  wise, 
and  tore  ahead. 

"  Oh,  Ned,  Ned !"  cried  Denise,  as  she  bent 
over  the  shaggy  neck,  and  poured  her  fears 
into  the  ears  which  seemed  to  have  almost 
human  understanding,  "he  will  kill  her!  he 
will  kill  her !  Please,  please,  let  me  catch 
him !"  and  as  though  he  realized  the  peril,  Ned 
gathered  himself  together  for  a  mighty  effort. 
By  this  time  the  others  had  awakened  to  the 
situation,  and  some  were  urging  their  horses 
forward,  some  were  stopping  stock-still  in  dis- 
may, and  others  calling  orders  which  fell  upon 
unheeding  ears,  while  those  in  the  carriage 
were  hastening  after  the  runaway  as  rapidly  as 
a  well-laden  carriage  could  travel  over  such  a 

244 


DENISE    TO    THE    RESCUE 

road.  Mrs.  Murray  was  shrieking  aloud,  but 
Mrs.  Lombard,  white  to  the  very  lips,  sat  rigid 
and  with  hands  clasped  as  though  asking  the 
only  aid  which  could  help  her  in  such  a  crisis. 
She  had  not  called  to  Denise,  for  she  under- 
stood all  too  well  the  resolute  spirit  which  was 
urging  the  girl  forward,  and  could  not  censure 
her  for  the  very  act  which  she  herself  would 
have  been  the  first  to  perform. 

The  brink  was  reached,  and  down  it  tore 
Comanche,  with  Ned  sweeping  behind  him, 
bent  upon  bringing  that  lunatic  horse  to  his 
senses  if  one  well-conducted  beast  could  com- 
pass it.  Once  upon  the  down  grade  the  plains- 
bred  pony  began  to  flounder  and  swerve  from 
one  side  of  the  road  to  the  other,  and  that  gave 
Ned  his  chance.  Clatter,  clatter !  Click,  click ! 
went  the  flying  hoofs,  and  with  Ned's  next 
bound  Denise  reached  forward  and  caught  the 
dangling  curb  rein.  How  that  bag  of  apples 
had  remained  upon  the  saddle  until  that 
moment  was  a  mystery  to  all  who  saw  its  wild 

245 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

bumps  and  bounds,  and  had  it  only  fallen  off 
sooner  it  would  have  been  far  better  for  all 
concerned.  But  stick  it  did  until  Denise 
caught  the  rein,  and  then,  with  a  jerk  given  to 
Comanche,  down  it  fell,  straight  beneath  his 
feet,  to  nearly  throw  him  down,  and  cause  the 
saddle  to  shift  dangerously  to  his  left  side. 
Wild  before,  he  was  simply  frantic  now,  and 
began  to  plunge  and  rear,  Denise  guiding  Ned 
with  one  hand  and  jerking  upon  Comanche's 
curb  for  dear  life  with  the  other.  Ned  never 
swerved,  but  seemed  to  understand  that  he  had 
a  duty  to  perform,  and  did  it  nobly.  But 
neither  Ned  nor  his  mistress  were  equal  to  the 
terrified  mustang,  and,  with  one  wild  plunge, 
up  he  reared,  swerved  sidewise,  sending  his 
rider  out  of  her  saddle,  and  jerking  the  reins 
from  Denise's  hand,  to  go  tearing  down  the 
mountain  at  a  rate  which  threatened  instant 
destruction. 

At  his  last  plunge  a  piercing  cry  came  from 
Flossy's  lips,  and  she  lay  helpless  in  the  ditch 

246 


DENISE    TO    THE     RESCUE 

at  the  roadside,  for  Comanche's  flying  hoofs  had 
struck  one  final  and  crushing  blow  as  he  rushed 
off,  shattering  the  arm  which  had  been  vainly 
striving  to  control  him. 

Ned's  impetus  made  it  impossible  for  him  to 
come  to  a  sudden  standstill,  and  before  Denise 
could  stop  entirely  she  had  gotten  nearly  twenty 
yards  beyond  Flossy.  Meanwhile,  the  rest  of 
the  party  had  hurried  to  her,  and  were  doing  all 
within  their  power  for  the  suffering  girl.  But 
the  moment  had  come  when  the  mother  in 
Mrs.  Lombard  cried  out  for  her  own,  and  as 
Denise  came  rushing  back,  a  pair  of  out- 
stretched arms  awaited  her  and  a  tense  voice 
cried :  "  My  darling !  Thank  God  you  are 
unharmed,  my  brave  little  daughter  !"  as  Denise 
dropped  her  reins  and  almost  fell  into  the 
beloved  arms  awaiting  her,  for  the  tension  was 
removed  and  she  began  to  realize  the  situation 
as  she  had  not  been  able  to  realize  it  earlier. 
"  Oh,  mamma,  mamma !     Is  she  killed  ?" 

Flossy  was  not  killed,  but  was  suffering 
247 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

keenly,  and  it  would  be  many  days  before  she 
recovered  from  that  wilful  ride.  Willing  hands 
helped  to  remove  the  baskets  from  the  carriage, 
and  make  it  ready  for  her,  and  a  very  subdued 
party  of  boys  and  girls  made  their  way  down 
the  mountain.  Comanche  had  rushed  home  as 
fast  as  he  could  go,  and,  when  he  arrived  there, 
his  saddle,  or  what  was  left  of  it,  was  dangling 
beneath  his  stomach.  Mrs.  Murray  was  too 
unnerved  to  do  anything  but  go  straight  to  her 
home,  but  Mrs.  Lombard  remained  in  the  car- 
riage to  take  Flossy  to  hers.  Some  of  the  party 
had  already  gone  on  ahead  to  secure  a  physi- 
cian, and  by  the  time  he  arrived  at  Mr.  Ben- 
nett's home  poor  Flossy  had  been  placed  in  bed, 
and  all  was  in  readiness  for  the  trying  ordeal  of 
setting  the  fractured  arm.  Feeling  that  Denise 
had  experienced  enough  of  a  strain  already, 
Mrs.  Lombard  had  left  her  at  their  own  home, 
where  grandma  came  promptly  forward  with 
soothing  words,  and  comforting  ministrations, 
while  John  gave  Ned  the  best  rub-down  and 

248 


DENISE    TO    THE    RESCUE 

feed  a  small  horse  could  wish  for,  to  say  noth- 
ing of  praise  enough  to  have  turned  his  head 
had  it  not  been  a  very  "  level"  one  indeed. 

Two  hours  later  Flossy  was  lying  weak  and 
wretched  upon  her  bed,  and  Mrs.  Lombard  was 
giving  directions  to  the  distraught  governess 
before  taking  her  departure  for  home  and  the 
rest  of  which  she  was  sorely  in  need  herself,  for 
she  had  stayed  to  give  all  possible  assistance, 
and,,  with  two  inexperienced  maids,  and  a  gov- 
erness but  little  better  qualified  to  meet  an 
emergency,  she  had  found  her  hands  full.  The 
girl  had  borne  her  suffering  bravely,  but  had 
scarcely  spoken  a  word  to  any  one.  After  a  few 
final  words,  Mrs.  Lombard,  with  the  governess 
following  closely  upon  her  heels,  came  to  say 
good-by,  and,  taking  Flossy's  hand,  bent  over 
to  kiss  her. 

"  Send  her  out  of  the  room.  I  want  to  speak 
to  you"  were  the  words  which  came  faintly 
from  the  girl's  white  lips. 

"  Oh,  I  must  not  leave  you !  I  will  do  any- 
249 


DENISE    AND    NED    T  OODLES 

thing  you  wish  I"  was  the  none  too  wise  answer 
made  by  the  governess. 

"  Please  go  and  leave  us  together  for  a  few 
moments,"  said  Mrs.  Lombard,  quick  to  under- 
stand that  she  could  be  helpful  in  a  way  which 
the  governess  never  suspected,  but  ought  to 
have  fully  understood  if  she  would  fill  such  a 
position  as  the  one  she  held. 

"  What  can  I  do  for  you,  dear  ?"  she  said 
very  gently,  as  she  sat  upon  the  bedside,  and 
smoothed  back  the  tousled  golden  hair  with  a 
touch  which  was  wonderfully  soothing  and 
quieting. 

Flossy  reached  up  and  rested  her  own  hand 
upon  the  one  upon  her  forehead,  and  looked 
into  Mrs.  Lombard's  eyes  with  the  hungry, 
yearning  look  sometimes  seen  in  a  young  girl's 
eyes  when  the  strongest  of  all  ties — mother  love 
— is  wanting.  Mrs.  Lombard  smiled  encour- 
agingly at  her  and  waited. 

"  Deniae  might  have  been  killed,"  Flossy 
whispered. 

250 


DENISE    TO    THE    RESCUE 

"  Let  us  thank  the  dear  Father  that  you  both 
escaped,"  replied  Mrs.  Lombard  gently. 

"  But  how  can  you  forgive  me  ?"  continued 
the  whisper. 

"Because  you  have  no  mother  to  help  you 
exercise  the  one  thing  we  all  need  to  exercise  at 
times — self-control.  We  have  both  had  a  trying 
experience  to-day,  and  one  we  shall  not  soon 
forget.  Let  us  strive  to  profit  by  it,  dear.  I 
know  how  hard  it  must  be  for  you  at  times,  but 
you  can  conquer  the  desire  to  carry  your  point 
if  you  will  only  believe  it." 

"  I  can't ;  I  just  can't,  and  I  never  shall 
because  I  am  rubbed  the  wrong  way  all  the  time. 
I  hate  it,  and  almost  wish  Comanche  had  killed 
me  and  ended  it  all  outright." 

Mrs.  Lombard  laid  her  finger  ever  so  gently 
upon  the  lips  which  were  forming  the  bitter 
words,  and  said  : 

"  Don't  try  to  talk  any  more  to-night.  You 
are  sorely  unnerved.  To-morrow  you  will  feel 
differently,  and  then  we  will  have  what  Denise 

\T-~Denw.  2^1 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

calls  one  of  our  '  comforting  talks,'  and  the 
world  will  look  less  dismal,  I  know.;; 

"  If  I  could  have  some  one  to  talk  to  as  she 
does  I  wouldn't  be  so  hateful.  Somehow,  I  seem 
to  need  setting  straight  about  a  dozen  times  a 
day,  and  there  is  no  one  to  set  me." 

"  Will  you  let  me  try  ?"  asked  Mrs.  Lombard 
very  tenderly. 

"  If  you  only  would,  oh  !  if  you  only  would," 
wailed  such  a  despairing  voice  that  Mrs.  Lom- 
bard's heart  ached  to  hear  such  a  tone  from  one 
only  a  little  older  than  her  own  sunny  daughter, 
whose  life  was  so  well  ordered  from  one  day's 
end  to  the  next  that  very  little  "  setting 
straight  "  was  ever  needed. 

"  Then  I  shall  have  to  call  you  my  adopted 
daughter,  and  shall  expect  you  to  come  to  me 
with  all  the  little  vexations  which  come  to 
young  people  at  times,  and  which  older  people 
were  made  to  smooth  out.  Do  you  think  that 
you  can  do  this,  dear,  and  let  me  feel  that  I  am 
helping   another  girl  just  as   I  would  wish  to 

252 


DENISE    TO    THE     RESCUE 

have  Denise  helped  if  I  had  slipped  from  her 
life  when  she  was  a  little  child  ?  Try,  Sweet- 
heart, and  meantime  we  will  see  how  we  can 
make  less  trying  the  weeks  which  must  bring 
some  suffering  and  some  weary  hours  to  you. 
I  will  come  to  see  you  in  the  morning,  and 
Denise  will  come  also,  if  you  would  like  to  have 
her.  I  hope  your  night  may  not  be  a  very 
trying  one,  but  know  that  you  will  do  your  best 
to  bear  the  pain  bravely.  Good-night,  adopted 
daughter  mine,"  and,  with  a  final  motherly 
caress,  Mrs.  Lombard  took  her  departure,  leaving 
behind  her  the  beginning  of  a  far  happier  condi- 
tion of  things  in  that  misdirected  home,  and  the 
developing  of  a  character  which  only  needed 
the  union  of  wisdom  and  affection  to  make  it  a 
very  lovely  thing  indeed. 


253 


CHAPTER  XX 

A    COASTING    EPISODE 

WINTER  had  come  in  earnest.  November 
was  drawing  to  a  close,  and  leaving 
behind  convincing  evidence  that  it  had 
claimed  the  right  to  be  classed  as  a  winter, 
rather  than  as  a  fall,  month,  for  snow  lay  thick 
upon  the  ground,  and  coasting  and  sleighing 
made  life  gay  for  the  young  people  of  Spring- 
dale.  Directly  lessons  were  ended  for  the  day, 
a  merry  party  of  girls  and  boys  gathered  upon 
the  hill  leading  down  from  the  chapel,  and 
thick  and  fast  sped  the  sleds  down  the  steep 
descent.  Given  to  original  performances,  it 
was  no  wonder  that  even  coasting  held  a  novel 
feature  as  indulged  in  by  Denise,  or  that  Ned 
Toodles  had  to  share  the   fun  in  some  way. 

254 


A    COASTING    EPISODE 

Outsiders  might  have  been  of  the  opinion  that 
there  was  but  little  fun  in  his  share  of  it,  but  to 
judge  from  the  manner  in  which  he  took  part 
in  it,  there  was  far  more  than  they  suspected. 
Accustomed  to  following  Denise  as  a  dog  would 
have  followed  her,  he  had  trotted  along  one  day 
when  she  started  off  with  her  sled  for  a  spin, 
and  had  watched  her  with  those  wise  eyes  of 
his  as  she  settled  herself  upon  the  sled  and 
went  whizzing  down  the  hill.  Then,  with  one 
grand,  hilarious  kick-up,  off  he  pelted  after 
her,  and  reached  the  bottom  of  the  hill  very 
nearly  as  soon  as  the  sled  reached  it.  That  he  felt 
immensely  proud  of  his  achievement  was  evinced 
by  the  sort  of  hurrah  he  cut  up  as  she  got  up 
from  the  sled  and  started  up  the  hill  for  another 
coast,  for  he  pranced  and  curveted  and  was  as  gay 
and  giddy  as  possible.  Then,  apparently  grasp- 
ing the  situation,  he  trotted  along  beside  Denise 
until  he  reached  the  top,  and  the  whole  perform- 
ance was  repeated.  There  were  several  other  chil- 
dren coasting  at  the  time,  and  Hart  among  them. 


DEMISE   AND    NED   TOODLES 

"Oh,  say  !  What's  the  matter  with  making 
him  draw  you  up  if  he  is  so  anxious  to  be  in 
the  fun  ?"  he  shouted,  and  thus  it  came  about. 
The  little  Dutch  collar  and  an  old  bridle  were 
promptly  brought  from  the  Birds'  Nest,  and,  in 
far  less  time  than  it  has  taken  to  tell  you  about 
it,  a  whifnetree  was  rigged  up,  and  fastened  to 
the  front  of  the  sled  and  Ned  harnessed  to  it. 
Then  away  he  went  up  the  hill  dragging  his 
little  mistress  to  the  top  as  easily  as  winking, 
and  sometimes  another  sled  "  cutting  "  behind 
hers.  After  one  or  two  trips  he  understood 
exactly  what  was  expected  of  him,  and  the  mo- 
ment Denise's  sled  started  down  the  hill  he  was 
off  after  it  like  a  shot.  Reins  and  traces  were 
carefully  fastened  so  that  he  could  not  trip  over 
them,  and  he  usually  managed  to  bring  up  at 
the  foot  of  the  hill  very  nearly  as  soon  as 
Denise.  That  he  was  often  borrowed  by  some 
of  the  other  children  need  hardly  be  added. 

The  coasting  was  at  its  very  best  when  one 
morning  on  his  way  to  school  Hart  stopped  to 

256 


A    COASTING     EPISODE 

give  the  signal  whistle,  which  promptly  brought 
Denise  upon  the  piazza. 

"  Are  you  coming  out  on  the  hill  this  after- 
noon?" he  asked. 

"  You  would  better  believe  I  am  !  This  is 
the  finest  day  we  have  had  yet.  I  wouldn't  miss 
it  for  anything,"  Denise  replied. 

"  Well,  you'll  see  a  show  if  you  do.  Charlie 
and  Archie  are  coming  out  on  the  two  o'clock 
train,  and  they  are  going  to  bring  Lionel  Al- 
genon  Montgomery  with  them,  ha !  ha !  I  say, 
that  fellow  is  a  piece  of  work,  and  if  we  don't 
have  a  regular  circus  before  this  day  is  over  then 
my  name  isn't  Hart  Murray.  Of  all  the  Miss 
Nancys  you  ever  saw  he  is  just  the  greatest, 
and  I  dare  say  he  will  pad  himself  all  up  with 
cotton  wool  before  he  risks  his  precious  bones 
upon  anything  so  dangerous  as  a  sled.  Just 
wait  until  you  see  him,  that's  all,"  and  Hart 
laughed  as  though  the  very  thought  of  Lionel 
Algenon  was  enough  to  stir  up  any  right-minded 
boy. 

257 


DENIS  E   AND    NED    TOODLES 

"  Who  is  he,  any  way  ?"  asked  Denise,  her 
eyes  already  twinkling. 

"  The  greatest  chump  you  ever  heard  tell  of. 
He  lives  next  door  to  Archie  and  Charlie,  and 
is  his  mamma's  precious  only  son.  How  she 
ever  made  up  her  mind  to  let  him  come  out  here 
with  my  cousins  I'm  sure  I  don't  know,  for  he 
never  stirs  ten  steps  without  either  her  or  his 
tutor.  Maybe  she  thinks  that  he  is  coming 
among  such  models  that  no  harm  can  come 
to  him.  We'll  see,"  and,  with  a  farewell  wave 
of  his  school-bag,  Hart  went  tearing  across  the 
lawn. 

When  two  o'clock  came,  Hart  and  his  guests 
came  with  it.  All  extra  sleds  to  be  obtained  by 
either  borrowing  or  begging  had  been  pressed 
into  service,  and  yet  the  supply  was  one  short, 
but  turn  about  was  fair  play,  and  so  no  great 
harm  threatened. 

"  Hullo,  Denise !"  called  out  the  boys,  for  they 
had  often  visited  Hart  before,  and  looked  upon 
her  as  one  of  themselves.     "  This  is  our  friend, 

258 


A     COASTING     EPISODE 

Lionel    Montgomery.     Denise    Lombard,    Li- 
onel," was  the  boyish,  off-hand  introduction. 

Now  Lionel  Algenon  Montgomery  had  been 
taught  that  it  was  highly  reprehensible  to 
address  a  strange  young  lady  by  her  Christian 
name,  even  though  she  were  but  twelve  years  of 
age  and  he  fourteen,  so,  making  his  very  best 
dancing-school  bow,  he  lisped  politely  : 

"  Charmed  to  meet  you,  Miss  Lombard,"  and 
then  stood  waiting  for  that  young  lady  to  take 
up  the  conversation.  But  Denise  was  far  from 
being  the  society  young  lady  he  imagined,  and 
nearly  laughed  in  his  face  as  she  said  : 

"  I  am  afraid  that  I  shall  have  to  wait  a  few 
years  before  I  can  be  called  Miss  Lombard,  and 
meantime  I'll  be  just  Denise,  if  you  don't 
mind.  I  guess  we  can  have  lots  more  fun  coast- 
ing and  snowballing  if  we  don't  have  to  think 
that  we  may  bang  off  Mr.  Murray's  cap,  or 
upset  Miss  Lombard  in  the  snow." 

"  Oh,  I  shall  be  charmed  if  you  will  allow 
me,"  was  the  stilted,  unnatural  reply. 

259 


D-ENISE    AN'D    NED    TOODLES 

"  I  am  afraid  I  shouldn't  know  who  you  were 
talking  to  if  you  didn't,"  was  the  laughing 
answer.  "  But  let's  begin  our  coasting  before 
this  lovely  day  is  all  gone,"  and  off  she  started 
for  the  "  Birds'  Nest,"  the  boys  tearing  after 
her.  At  least,  three  of  them  "  tore ;"  the  fourth 
one  paced  along  behind  them  as  though  he 
were  promenading  down  Fifth  Avenue.  Pres- 
ently Ned  was  brought  from  his  stall,  the  bri- 
dle and  collar  put  upon  him,  and  off  they 
started. 

Now,  Chapel  hill  had  one  peculiarity,  and 
that  peculiarity  needed  to  be  studied.  In  the 
first  place,  it  was  a  steep  hill,  and  at  the  foot  of 
it  ran  a  road  at  right  angles  to  the  descent. 
During  the  summer  the  hill  was  covered  with 
a  luxuriant  growth  of  clover,  from  which 
Mr.  Lombard  harvested  a  fine  supply  of  hay  for 
his  horses.  Where  the  fields  bordered  the  road, 
a  steep  terrace,  fully  five  feet  high,  made  it  im- 
possible for  a  hay -wagon  to  enter  it,  but,  to  over- 
come that  obstacle,  the  men  had  dug  the  terrace 

260 


A    COASTING    EPISODE 

away  in  one  place  and  made  a  gradual  incline 
about  ten  feet  wide,  through  which  they  could 
drive  in  and  out  without  taking  a  flying  leap 
into  the  roadway  with  their  load.  It  was 
through  this  incline  that  the  coasters  guided 
their  sleds,  whizzing  through  it  and  out  upon 
the  smooth  road,  to  make  a  sharp  turn  and  go 
bounding  on  to  the  very  edge  of  Mr.  Lombard's 
grounds,  where  they  had  thrown  up  a  great  pile 
of  snow  for  a  bumper. 

''Clear  the  track!"  shouted  Hart,  flinging 
himself  upon  his  sled,  to  go  spinning  down  the 
hill,  through  the  hay- wagon's  entrancewa}r, 
and  on  pell-mell  to  the  bottom,  the  other  boys 
hard  after  him,  leaving  Lionel  to  do  the  gallant 
for  Denise  if  she  felt  disposed  to  accept  it. 

"  Here,  take  my  sled  and  have  a  spin,"  she 
said.  "  The  boys  will  be  back  in  a  minute,  and 
I  can  have  one  of  theirs." 

"  Oh,  no  !  I  couldn't  think  of  depriving  you. 
Besides,  I  don't  know  that  I  shall  coast.  It 
seems  so  dangerous." 

261 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

"  Mercy,  me !  No,  it  isn't.  You  couldn't  get 
hurt  if  you  wanted  to.  All  you  have  got  to  do 
is  steer  straight  down  where  we  have  gone,  and 
you  will  come  out  all  right.  Go  on  !  It's  great 
fun,  and  Ned  will  pull  you  up,"  and  she  held 
her  sled-rope  toward  him. 

"  I  will  watch  you  go  first.  I  am  not  accus- 
tomed to  very  violent  exercise.  Mamma  does 
not  approve  of  it." 

11 1  guess  she  wouldn't  call  coasting  such  vio- 
lent exercise,"  said  Denise,  as  she  settled  herself 
upon  the  sled,  gave  the  necessary  hitch  forward, 
and  spun  off  over  the  icy  hill,  whistling  for  Ned 
to  follow. 

By  this  time  the  boys  were  coming  up,  and 
became  conscious  of  their  own  shortcomings. 

"  Say,  fellows,  we  need  to  be  thumped,"  cried 
Charlie,  in  contrition.  "  Look  at  Lionel  stand- 
ing up  there.  He  hasn't  got  so  much  as  a 
shingle  to  coast  down  on." 

"  Bet  five  cents  he  won't  coast  anyway.  If 
he  did  he  would  want  to  roll  himself  up   in  a 

262 


A     COASTING    EPISODE 

bearskin    to    keep    warm,"  was   Archie's   com- 
ment. 

"I'm  the  one  who  ought  to  be  thrashed. 
Wonder  what  sort  of  a  host  mother  would  say 
I  am.  Say,  Lionel,  we'll  be  up  in  a  minute,  and 
then  you  can  have  a  go !  Awful  sorry  I  didn't 
think  of  my  manners  sooner.  There  you  are," 
and  Hart  brought  his  sled  up  with  a  flourish. 

"  Thanks,  awfully,  but  I  don't  think  that  I 
care  to  go  down.  I'll  just  watch  you  fellows. 
It's  pretty  steep,  don't  you  know." 

"  Why,  it's  the  finest  you  ever  saw  !  Not  a 
bit  steep.  Just  try  it,  and  see  if  it  isn't  just 
O.  K.  Take  any  sled  you  like,  but  mine's  a 
hummer." 

"  It  is  a  very  low  one,  don't  you  think  so  ?" 
asked  Lionel,  eying  askance  the  rakish  little 
sled  built  for  speed  and  endurance,  as  a  boy's 
sled  has  need  to  be. 

"  Why  you  can't  do  a  thing  with  them  if 
they  are  high !"  was  the  rather  derisive  com- 
ment. 

263 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

"  Denise  seems  to  manage  hers  very  well," 
replied  Lionel,  as  Denise  came  up,  Ned  supply- 
ing the  motive  power. 

"  Oh,  she  coasts  girl  fashion,  of  course.  No 
fun  in  that !  Got  to  go  a  whopper  if  you  want 
to  have  fun,"  cried  Archie. 

"Seems  to  me  I  would  prefer  sitting  up 
straight.  Really,  I  should  not  like  to  have  my 
head  get  there  first,"  was  the  remark  which 
caused  Charlie  to  cry  : 

"  You  want  to  '  get  in  with  both  feet/  do 
you?" 

"  Well,  it  would  not  hurt  so  much  if  one  met 
with  an  accident,  don't  you  know,"  was  the 
reply,  given  in  all  seriousness. 

"Will  you  go  down  on  my  sled?"  asked 
Denise. 

"  Why,  I  hate  to  deprive  you  of  it,  but,  really, 
— well,  I  think  that,  perhaps,  I  could  manage 
that  one  better  than  the  others,  if  you  will  let 
me  take  it." 

"  Of  course  you  may  take  it,  and  Ned  will  be 
264 


A    COASTING    EPISODE 

at  the  bottom  of  the  hill  nearly  as  quick  as  you 
are,"  cried  Denise. 

"  Really  ?  Will  he  follow  me  as  he  follows 
you?  What  a  remarkable  pony,"  said  Lionel, 
reaching  toward  Ned  to  stroke  him,  whereat 
Ned  gave  a  comical  bounce  and  evaded  him. 

"  Well,  let's  do  something  beside  standing 
here  and  freezing,"  added  Ned's  mistress,  for 
she  was  accustomed  to  going  up  and  down  in 
hot  pursuit  of  the  other  sleds,  and  found  this 
polite  parleying  rather  cold  work. 

With  many  adjustings  and  false  starts,  ques- 
tions as  to  whether  it  would  not  be  wiser  to  keep 
to  one  side  of  the  well-beaten  slide,  lest  he  lose 
control  of  the  sled  where  the  descent  was  so 
glassy,  and  if  he  should  put  down  his  left  or  his 
right  heel  if  he  wished  to  go  to  the  right, 
Lionel  Algenon,  at  last,  got  started  amidst  a 
hurrah  of  shouts  at  the  send-off.  It  may  have 
been  the  hurrah,  and  it  may  have  been  the 
sight  of  the  long  stretch  of  gleaming  snow  which 
spread  before  him  like  ground  glass,  or  it  may 

265 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

have  been  wicked  Ned  Toodles  careering  along 
just  behind  him,  that  caused  him  to  become  dis- 
concerted long  before  the  bottom  of  the  hill  was 
reached.  Whatever  it  was,  the  climax  came 
very  speedily. 

"  Keep  in  the  track  !  Oh,  keep  in  the  track !" 
shouted  those  following  close  behind  him. 
"You'll  jump  the  terrace  if  you  steer  way  over 
to  that  side.  Go  through  the  opening  where  we 
went !  You'll  smash  the  sled  to  bits  if  you  go 
over  the  bank !" 

But  their  warnings  fell  upon  deaf  ears. 
Lionel  felt  that  sled  spinning  along  beneath 
him  at  a  rate  which  struck  terror  to  his  very 
soul,  and  turned  instinctively  into  the  softer 
snow  at  the  side  of  the  beaten  path.  But  that 
snow  was  treacherous,  for  it  was  merely  a  light 
coating  of  new-fallen  snow  upon  a  hard  crust 
underneath,  and  his  speed  was  hardly  a  parti- 
cle lessened.  On  sped  the  sled  with  a  perfect 
shower  of  fine,  dry  snow  plowing  up  in  front  of 
it,  and    nearly    blinding   the   bewildered    boy. 

266 


A    COASTING    EPISODE 

Through  the  opening  whizzed  the  other  two 
boys,  landing  in  the  road  safe  and  right  side  up 
just  in  time  to  see  Denise's  sled,  with  Lionel 
clinging  to  it  with  both  hands,  come  bounding 
over  the  terrace  with  one  wild,  flying  leap,  and 
land  in  front  of  them.  Whatever  saved  them 
from  piling  on  top  of  it  was  a  miracle.  Then 
came  the  end,  and  when  they  finally  got  their 
sleds  stopped,  and  made  their  way  back  to  the 
spot,  there  sat  Lionel,  still  clinging  to  the  side 
bars,  the  sled  beneath  him,  which  was  flattened 
out  as  though  it  had  been  put  beneath  a  letter- 
press. 

"I  really  think  that  I  prefer  not  coasting 
any  more,"  he  remarked,  as  they  assisted  him 
to  his  feett 

"  Well,  until  Denise  gets  another  sled  I  don't 
believe  you  will.  What  the  dickens  made  you 
do  such  a  fool  thing  as  try  to  jump  that  terrace, 
anyway  ?"  demanded  Archie,  with  some  spirit, 
for  he  was  growing  just  a  trifle  tired  of  "  taking 
care  of  a  sissy,"  as  he  dubbed  Lionel,  and  his 

it—Dtnite.  267 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

own  day  was  being  spoiled  by  this  boy's  affec« 
tations. 

"  I  did  not  see  the  terrace,  and  the  other  path 
was  very  slippery." 

"  You  don't  expect  to  coast  on  sandpaper,  do 
you?"  demanded  Charlie. 

"  Well,  I  think  it  would  be  nicer  to  coast  on 
level  ground.  Then  there  would  be  no  real 
danger." 

"  Oh,  go  get  an  automobile,"  was  the  natural, 
boyish  retort. 

"  Yes,  really,  I  think  that  I  shall  ask  mamma 
to  get  me  one.  One  can  keep  so  comfortable, 
don't  you  know." 


268 


CHAPTER  XXI 

ANOTHER    CHRISTMAS    DAY    DRAWS    NEAR 

ONCE  November  passes,  Christmas  seems 
very  near  at  hand,  and,  before  we  know 
it,  the  day  dearest  to  all  young  people, 
with  its  plans,  its  secrets,  and  its  surprises,  is 
with  us.  But  before  that  day  arrived,  a  great 
sorrow  came  to  Denise,  and  she  felt  that  not 
even  Christmas  joys  could  entirely  dispel  her 
sadness. 

Since  early  winter  Tan  had  been  ailing,  and 
as  the  weather  grew  colder  and  colder,  the 
rheumatism  which  had  caused  him  so  much  suf- 
fering the  previous  winter,  and  which  the  vet- 
erinary had  said  he  feared  he  could  not  survive 
if  it  attacked  him  again,  made  life  almost  a 
burden   for  the  dear  old  pet,  and  sometimes, 

269 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

when  she  saw  how  wretched  he  was,  Denise 
almost  wished  that  his  suffering  might  be  ended 
forever.  But  then  came  the  thought  of  never 
seeing  him  again,  and  his  long  years  of  devotion 
to  her ;  for  eight  years  seem  a  very  great  num- 
ber when  one  is  young.  And  it  really  was 
a  great  number  in  Denise's  life ;  it  was  two- 
thirds  of  all  she,  herself,  had  lived. 

Tan  still  had  his  warm  stall  in  the  Birds' 
Nest,  and  John  cared  for  him  very  tenderly,  but 
it  was  Denise  alone  who  could  soothe  him  and 
comfort  him  when  the  poor  bones  ached  past 
endurance.  Seated  upon  some  fresh  straw  in 
his  stall,  she  would  hold  the  poor  weary  old 
head  in  her  lap,  rubbing  and  "  pooring  "  it,  and 
rambling  on  in  the  crooning  voice  she  had 
always  used  when  holding  her  little  love-talks 
with  her  pets,  and  which  they  all  understood 
and  responded  to,  each  in  his  own  particular 
manner. 

December  opened  with  a  wild,  driving  snow, 
the  sort  that  soon  buries  everything  from  sight, 

270 


ANOTHER    CHRISTMAS     DAY 

and  creeps  into  every  crevice.  A  high  wind 
sent  the  snow  scurrying  before  it,  and  the  cold 
penetrated  the  very  marrow  of  one's  bones. 

"  I  think  I'll  stop  in  the  Birds'  Nest  the  night, 
sir.  The  poor  old  goat  can't  hold  out  through 
it,  I'm  afraid,  and  it  sort  of  goes  agin  the  grain 
of  me  fer  me  to  lave  him  to  give  up  the  fight  all 
by  himself  afther  the  years  I've  tuck  care  of 
him,"  said  John  to  Mr.  Lombard,  when  he 
brought  him  home  from  the  station  that  night. 

"  Is  it  really  so  ?  Poor  old  Tan  I  If  he  is  only 
a  goat,  he  has  certainly  been  a  faithful  creature, 
and  I've  known  many  a  human  being  give  less 
proof  of  affection  and  appreciation  of  kindness 
than  he  has  given,"  replied  Mr.  Lombard. 

"  'Tis  right  ye  are,  sir,  and  the  way  he  do  be 
looking  for  Miss  Denise  and  a  listenin'  for  her 
voice  would  clean  break  the  heart  of  ye.  Faith, 
he  can  hear  her  no  matter  where  she  is,  I  belave, 
and  give  his  queer  blaat  av  an  answer.  And 
the  eyes  av  him  whin  she  comes  into  the  Nest 
are  just  fair  human." 

2fl 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

"  I'll  go  right  out  to  the  Nest  with  you,"  re- 
plied Mr.  Lombard,  and  John  drove  on  through 
the  grounds. 

A  dim  light  was  burning,  shedding  its  rays 
upon  the  occupants  of  the  tiny  stalls,  and  the 
kittens  curled  up  in  their  box  in  the  corner  of 
the  stable.  In  the  larger  stall,  well  blanketed 
in  his  gay  plaid  blanket,  stood  Ned  Toodles, 
peeping  through  the  little  slot  in  the  door.  The 
other  stall  did  not  have  a  door,  and  in  it,  lying 
upon  a  thick  bed  of  fresh,  clean  straw,  and 
swathed  almost  from  head  to  foot  in  flannel 
bandages,  lay  Tan,  no  longer  able  to  get  upon 
his  feet.  As  Mr.  Lombard  stooped  down  to 
stroke  him  he  gave  his  usual  friendly  blaat, 
although  not  in  the  same  vigorous  tone. 

"  Poor  old  pet,"  said  Mr.  Lombard,  "  is 
the  story  of  your  devoted  life  almost  told  ? 
Your  little  mistress  will  grieve  long  and 
sorely  for  you,  I  fear.  No,  he  cannot  last 
much  longer,  John,  and,  perhaps,  we  should 
be  thankful,  for  he  suffers  cruelly.     I'll  leave 

272 


ANOTHER     CHRISTMAS     DAY 

him  to  your  care,  for  he  could  not  be  in  better 
hands." 

"Sure,  he  is  Miss  Denise's,  and  that's  all 
that  anny  wan  nade  know,"  answered  John. 

Dawn  was  just  breaking  when  John  came  up 
to  the  house  to  ask  for  Miss  Denise.  The  good 
fellow  had  spent  the  entire  night  ministering  to 
the  pet  he  had  cared  for  for  eight  years,  and,  as 
the  night  waned,  the  tender-hearted  fellow  felt 
that  he  could  not  see  him  suffer  as  he  was  with- 
out at  least  trying  to  do  something  more  for  his 
comfort.  Nothing  had  soothed  him  as  Denise's 
stroking,  and  John  felt  that  since  it  could  only 
be  for  a  few  hours  at  most  he  would  call  the  lit- 
tle mistress. 

It  was  not  yet  seven  o'clock,  but  Denise  and 
her  father  hurried  into  their  clothing  and 
hastened  to  the  Nest. 

"  Poor,  dear  old  Tanny-boy,"  called  Denise, 
as  she  went  toward  the  -stall,  and  a  weak,  quav- 
ering blaat  answered  her  as  Tan  strove  to  raise 
his  head.     But  the  head  had  been  raised  for  the 

273 


DENISE    AND    NED    TOODLES 

last  time.  Without  a  word,  but  with  brimming 
eyes,  Denise  sat  down  upon  the  straw  and  lifted 
the  weary  head  into  her  lap,  crooning  over  it  in 
the  old,  familiar  way.  For  hours  during  that 
long  night  John  had  striven  in  vain  to  quiet 
Tan's  piteous  moans  by  bathing  him  with  hot 
lotions,  but  all  to  no  purpose.  But  who  shall 
say  that  love  may  not  compass  what  skill  can- 
not? No  sooner  did  Tan  feel  that  beloved  lit- 
tle mistress's  gentle  strokes  than  the  moans 
ceased,  and  the  sigh  almost  of  a  tired  child 
testified  that  so  far  as  human  comfort  could  min- 
ister to  him  and  bring  relief,  he  had  found  it. 
The  snow  had  ceased  falling  in  the  night,  and 
when  the  sun  arose  it  shone  upon  a  gleaming 
white  world — a  world  which  seemed  too  beauti- 
ful to  hold  any  sorrow.  Breakfast-hour  came 
and  passed,  but  Denise  did  not  give  it  a  thought, 
and  neither  Mr.  nor  Mrs.  Lombard  would  dis- 
turb her.  Mr.  Lombard  deferred  his  departure 
for  town,  and  waited  for  Denise  to  end  her 
watch,  which   he  felt  sure  must  end  very  soon. 

274 


ANOTHER    CHRISTMAS     DAY 

It  was  not  long  past  nine  o'clock  when  Tan 
gave  a  sudden  start,  looked  up  into  Denise's  face 
with  the  look  of  loving  devotion  she  had  known 
so  long,  gave  one  of  the  old  familiar  hlaats,  and 
dropped  his  head  upon  her  lap  again,  to  give 
one  long,  weary  sigh,  and  close  the  great  topaz 
eyes  forever. 

"I  just  can't  believe  it  is  so,"  said  Denise  an 
hour  later,  when  her  sobs  were  subsiding  and 
she  was  nestling  in  the  arms  which  never  failed 
her  in  any  sorrow.  "  I  have  had  him  so  long- 
that  it  seems  as  though  I  couldn't  get  on  with- 
out seeing  him  every  day.  What  will  be  done 
with  him,  mamma?" 

"  Will  you  leave  that  entirely  to  papa  and  me, 
darling?"  asked  Mrs.  Lombard,  as  she  stroked 
back  the  rumpled  locks  from  the  hot  forehead. 

"Yes;  I  don't  want  to  even  see  him  again, 
for  unless  I  could  see  him  standing  as  he  used 
to  be,  and  his  great  eyes  looking  right  at  me,  I 
just  couldn't  stand  it,  mamma." 

"  Well,  try  not  to  think  about  it  any  more 
275 


DENISE   AND    NED    T  OODLES 

just  now,  dear,  but  have  Ned  put  to  the  cuttei 
and  take  me  for  a  drive  to  the  village.  I  wish  to 
do  some  errands,  and  the  roads  are  pretty  well 
broken  now.  It  will  do  us  both  good,"  and  so 
it  happened  that  all  that  was  left  of  Tan 
had  passed  from  sight  before  Denise  and  her 
mother  came  home,  both  the  happier  for  the 
drive  in  the  crisp,  keen  air. 

Denise's  holiday  began  the  week  before 
Christmas,  for  Miss  Meredith  lived  a  long  way 
from  Springdale,  and  three  days  were  required 
to  make  her  journey  home.  Then  came  trips  to 
the  city,  and  one  of  them  resulted  in  a  funny 
enough  addition  to  the  family  of  pets,  for,  while 
passing  through  one  of  the  streets  in  the  lower 
part  of  the  city  with  her  father  and  mother,  a 
forlorn,  wretched  dog,  a  tin  saucepan  tied  to  its 
tail,  frightened  nearly  to  death,  and  hotly  pur- 
sued by  a  mob  of  howling,  yelling  boys,  came 
tearing  toward  them.  Denise  was  walking  a 
few  steps  in  advance  of  her  father  and  mother, 
and,  before  she  could  gather  herself  together  to 

276 


ANOTHER    CHRISTMAS    DAY 

resist  the  onslaught,  the  dog,  as  though  he  had 
instinctively  recognized  in  her  a  protector  of 
his  kind  and  all  helpless  creatures,  had  sprung 
straight  at  her,  knocking  her  flat  upon  the  side- 
walk. With  never  a  thought  for  self,  she 
instantly  clasped  her  arms  around  the  dirty, 
miserable  beast,  and  clung  to  him  for  dear  life 
and  justice.  Her  father  and  mother  had  sprung 
toward  her,  as  had  one  or  two  passers-by,  each 
one  feeling  sure  that  they  would  find  the  dog's 
teeth  firmly  buried  in  some  part  of  her. 

But  that  dog  had  been  wise  in  his  choice  of 
a  protector,  and  was  also  wise  enough  not  to 
abuse  his  good  fortune. 

Now  the  sight  of  a  handsomely  dressed 
twelve-year-old  girl  sitting  in  the  middle  of  the 
sidewalk  and  holding  in  her  arms  a  dirty,  for- 
lorn dog  with  a  tin  pan  securely  fastened  to  the 
end  of  his  tail,  and  trembling  with  fright,  is  cer- 
tainly not  a  common  one,  and  in  just  one  brief 
little  minute  about  one  hundred  people  of  all 
sorts  and  conditions,  to  say  nothing  of  the  boys 

277. 


DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

who  had  been  in  hot  chase  after  the  dog,  and  a 
big  policeman,  who  felt  that  he  had,  at  least,  the 
right  to  make  a  few  polite  inquiries,  were  sur- 
rounding her. 

"  Denise,  my  darling !"  was  all  Mrs.  Lombard 
could  exclaim,  while  Mr.  Lombard  endeavored 
to  get  the  young  lady  and  her  dog  upon  their 
own  legs.  Close  at  hand  was  a  large  wholesale 
store,  where  fruits  and  vegetables  of  all  sorts 
and  kinds  were  piled  in  crates  and  barrels,  and 
just  behind  some  bouncing  pumpkins  loomed  a 
fat,  ruddy  face,  so  like  them  that  it  might  have 
been  mistaken  for  one  of  them. 

This  animated  pumpkin  had  been  standing 
in  the  door  of  the  store,  and  had  witnessed  the 
whole  scene,  and,  just  as  Mr.  Lombard  got 
Denise  right  side  up,  and  the  big  policeman 
was  shooing  off  the  crowd,  he  waddled  out  of 
his  store  and,  beckoning  with  one  fat,  pudgy 
hand,  said : — 

"Yow  prings  dat  yung  lady  und  dat  dog 
straightavay  into  mine  store.     She  vas  one  fine 

178 


ANOTHER    CHRISTMAS    DAY 

trump  already.  Dat  dog,  he  find  himself  in  one 
great  big  luck,  if  he  himself  know.  You  git 
soom  mud  ?  Chust  so.  I  take  it  you  all  off, 
and  you  pretty  soon  don't  know  you  got  some 
bimeby."  As  he  talked,  he  took  hold  of  Denise's 
arm  and  led  her  into  the  store,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lombard  being  only  too  glad  to  follow  and  get 
away  from  the  all-too-curious  crowd.  Into  the 
store  they  hurried,  and  it  was  not  until  Denise 
was  put  into  some  sort  of  shape,  and  made  fit 
to  appear  in  public  once  more  that  they  all 
realized  that  they  had  become  the  owners,  willy- 
nilly,  of  about  as  forlorn  a  specimen  of  a  dog 
as  any  one  could  have  thrust  upon  them.  Then 
arose  the  question  of  what  in  this  world  to  do 
with  him,  and  it  was  a  poser. 


279 


CHAPTER  XXII 

CHKISTMAS    FOR   ALL    THE   PETS 

MERRY  CHRISTMAS  !  Merry  Christ- 
mas!" was  the  cry  which  sounded 
from  one  end  of  the  house  to  the 
other  when  Christmas  morning  dawned,  bright 
and  beautiful,  as  we  always  love  to  picture  it, 
upon  Denise's  home.  Denise  was  wide  awake 
long  before  there  was  any  dawn  at  all,  and  scur- 
rying about  the  house  to  get  the  others  awake. 
As  usual,  Pokey  was  upon  the  scene,  for 
Christmas  day  would  hardly  have  seemed 
Christmas  day  without  her.  Ever  since  they 
were  tiny  children  she  and  Denise  had  passed 
it  together.  Christmas  eve  had  been  filled  with 
its  usual  merrymaking  and  secrets,  and  the 
constant  ringing  of  the  door-bell  and  deliver- 

280 


CHRISTMAS     FOR    ALL 

ing  of  packages  by  the  belated  expressmen 
had  kept  things  wildly  exciting.  Among  the 
last  things  delivered  was  a  huge  box,  standing 
fully  as  high  as  Denise's  head,  and  so  broad 
that  it  required  the  two  men  upon  the  wagon 
and  John  to  carry  it  into  the  Birds'  Nest. 

"  What  can  it  be  ?  Where  did  it  come  from  ? 
Who  do  you  suppose  sent  it  ?"  were  the  ques- 
tions which  greeted  it. 

"St.  Nick,  of  course,"  said  Mr.  Lombard, 
laughing.  "  Who  else  sends  mysterious  boxes 
and  bundles  at  this  season  of  the  year  ?" 

"  It  says  New  York  on  the  cover,  if  that  is 
the  cover,"  said  Pokey,  as  she  walked  around 
and  around  it,  and  touched  it  as  though  that 
might  reveal  the  secret  of  what  it  contained. 

"  Did  you  have  that  Christmas  fun  out  in  the 
Birds'  Nest  because  you  knew  that  this  big  box 
was  coming,  papa?"  asked  Denise,  with  a 
twinkle  in  her  eyes. 

"  Who  said  that  I  knew  it  was  coming,  Miss 
Paulina  Pry  ?" 

281 


DENISE   AND    NED   TOODLES 

"  He  didn't  take  that  bait  worth  a  straw,  did 
he?"  asked  Denise,  laughing,  as  she  turned  to 
Pokey. 

"  Did  you  think  that  your  old  daddy  was  to 
be  taken  in  so  easily  ?  I  guess  not,"  and  Mr. 
Lombard  wagged  a  finger  at  her. 

The  entire  family  had  gathered  in  the  Birds' 
Nest  on  Christmas  eve,  and  had  decked  the 
little  house  from  end  to  end  with  greens.  In 
one  corner  stood  the  tree  laden  with  all  manner 
of  shining  trifles  to  catch  and  reflect  the  light, 
while  beneath  it  lay  the  almost  endless  number 
of  parcels  which  had  come  from  all  directions. 
During  the  dressing  of  the  tree,  Ned  Toodles, 
the  dogs,  and  the  cats,  had  roamed  about  at  will, 
and  more  than  once,  in  the  midst  of  the  gayety, 
Denise  had  peeped  through  the  door  leading 
into  the  little  stable  to  look  with  saddened  eyes 
at  Tan's  empty  stall,  for  Tan  would  have  been 
in  the  midst  of  the  merrymaking.  When  all 
had  been  arranged  for  the  grand  distribution 
next  day,  the  big  box  was  placed  in  the  very 

2$2 


CHRISTMAS     FOR    ALL 

middle  of  the  little  dining-room,  thereby  very 
nearly  filling  it  up,  and  sending  curiosity  up  to 
fever  heat.  So  it  was  no  wonder  that  Denise 
and  Pokey  were  astir  at  an  early  hour,  and 
leaving  no  stone  unturned  to  get  the  other 
members  of  the  family  astir,  too. 

The  Birds'  Nest  was  not  to  be  visited  until 
after  breakfast,  for  the  maids  and  John  were  to 
be  present  when  the  gifts  were  distributed,  and 
that  meant  more  bottled  up  patience. 

But  at  last  even  domestic  affairs  came  to  an 
end,  and  the  signal  to  start  for  the  Nest  was 
given,  and  pell-mell  rushed  the  girls,  with  the 
older  members  of  the  family  not  very  far 
behind. 

A  brighter,  prettier,  more  novel  Christmas 
setting  it  would  have  been  hard  to  picture,  for 
John  had  been  early  astir,  and  all  about  the 
little  playhouse  everything  was  in  spandy  order 
for  the  reception  of  its  young  mistress  and  her 
friends,  while  within,  the  tall  Christmas  tree,  and 
bright-green  decorations,  with  the  gleaming  red 

%9~JJ*nis4<  283 


DENISE   AND    NED   TOODLES 

berries  of  the  holly,  and  pearly  white  ones  of 
the  mistletoe,  proclaimed  it  Christmas  day  be- 
yond all  question.  Nor  was  this  all.  There 
stood  the  pets,  Ned,  Sailor,  Beauty  Buttons,  and 
"  Charity  Jack,"  as  the  dog  rescued  in  New 
York  had  been  named.  For  Denise  had  begged 
so  hard  to  have  him  sent  to  Springdale,  "  where," 
she  urged,  "  he  could  have  such  good  care,  and 
never  again  be  in  danger  of  being  so  misused, 
and  where  she,  herself,  could  train  him  prop- 
erly," that  consent  had  finally  been  given,  and 
now,  marvel  of  marvels  that  he  knew  himself  at 
all,  there  he  stood  with  the  other  respectable 
members  of  dog  society.  A  "  bra'  brass  collar  " 
was  upon  his  neck,  although,  strictly  speaking, 
it  was  not  brass  at  all,  but  leather,  with  a  nickel 
plate  with  "  Charity  Jack  "  and  Denise's  name 
upon  it,  to  say  nothing  of  a  small  bell,  for,  even 
though  filled  to  repletion  with  the  best  food  that 
dog  ever  had,  poor  Charity  Jack  could  never 
overcome  his  early  habits,  and  would  go  stray- 
ing off  from  a  dinner  such  as  he  could  never 

284 


CHRISTMAS    FOR    ALL 

have  dreamed  of,  even  when  imminent  starva- 
tion quickened  his  dreams,  to  forage  in  every  can 
and  barrel  for  miles  around,  and  return  home 
triumphant  with  a  bone  which  made  his  friends 
flee  from  his  presence,  until  he  had  carefully 
buried  it  for  future  emergencies. 

The  cats,  too,  were  there,  and  each  pet  had  a 
sprig  of  holly  tied  upon  his  collar  or  fastened 
on  the  gay  ribbon  about  his  neck.  Whether 
they  were  fully  alive  to  their  honors  was  some- 
what of  a  question,  for  now  and  again  a  holly 
prickle  would  prod  them  a  trifle,  and  produce  a 
demonstration  of  some  sort  or  another,  accord- 
ing to  the  animal  which  wore  it. 

But  what  did  Denise's  startled  eyes  behold  ? 
Had  dear  old  Tan  come  to  life  again  ?  Surely 
that  beautiful  creature  standing  in  the  midst  of 
the  other  pets,  although  grown  strangely  tall, 
and  so  gayly  decked  with  holly,  must  be  Tan. 
The  head  was  held  in  the  same  attitude  he  had 
always  held  it  when  listening  for  Denise's  voice, 
the  ears  were  pricked  forward  as  he  had  always 

285 


DENIS  E    AND    NED    TOODLES 

turned  them  when  listening  for  her  footsteps, 
the  splendid  horns  gleamed  as  they  had  always 
gleamed  when  John  varnished  them,  and,  most 
wonderful  of  all,  the  beautiful  topaz  eyes  looked 
at  her  just  as  Tan  had  always  looked.  John  had 
posed  him  well,  and  the  taxidermist's  art  had 
not  omitted  a  single  detail  of  those  supplied  by 
the  fine  photograph  Mr.  Lombard  had  shown 
him  of  Tan  as  the  goat  had  looked  in  life ; 
for  the  pets,  with  Tan  among  them,  bad 
been  photographed  again  and  again,  in  all 
possible,  and  sometimes  almost  impossible,  at- 
titudes. 

At  Denise's  entrance  the  pets  had  greeted  her 
in  their  usual  manner,  Ned  neighing,  the  dogs 
barking,  and  the  cats  mewing,  but  for  once  their 
greetings  were  almost  ignored,  as  Denise,  with 
a  cry  of — "Oh,  Tanny-boy  !  Tanny-boy  !  have 
you  really  come  back  ?"  rushed  toward  the 
great  creature  standing  there  upon  his  wheeled 
platform  in  such  a  lifelike  attitude  that  it  was 
hard  to  realize  that  it  was  not  the  true  Tan  once 

286 


CHRISTMAS     FOR    ALL 

more  among   the   mates    of  whom    he   was    so 
fond. 

Denise  forgot  all  else  as  she  clasped  her  arms 
about  the  figure  beside  her,  and  if  anything 
could  have  assuaged  her  grief  at  Tan's  loss, 
this  came  nearest  doing  so.  After  many  ques- 
tions had  been  answered,  and  the  other  pets  had 
come  in  for  their  share  of  petting  from  all  pres- 
ent, for  they  had  no  notion  of  being  slighted, 
the  distribution  of  the  gifts  took  place,  and  fun 
ran  riot.  Last  of  all  came  the  gifts  for  the  pets — 
a  funny  enough  collection.  Ned  had  a  box  of 
chocolate  cream  drops,  his  favorite  delicacy, 
with  which  he  would  have  promptly  made 
himself  ill  had  he  been  permitted  to  do  so ; 
Sailor  a  huge  Bologna  sausage  tied  up  with  a 
scarlet  ribbon,  and  when  it  was  handed  to  him, 
he  took  it  and  paraded  thither  and  yonder 
with  the  sausage  sticking  out  one  side  of  his 
mouth  and  the  red  bow  waving  at  the  other. 
Beauty's  present  was  a  monstrous  chocolate 
rat,  from  which  he  bit  and  bolted  the  head 

287 


DENISE   AND    NED    TOODLES 

the  very  instant  it  was  given  to  him,  and 
was  severely  reproved  for  his  greediness.  Then, 
realizing  the  error  of  his  ways,  he  followed 
Sailor  about,  the  rat  in  his  mouth,  and  the  tail, 
the  longest  rat  ever  boasted,  dragging  upon  the 
floor.  Charity  Jack  made  a  wild  grab  for  the 
huge  bone  offered  him,  and  fled  with  it  to  some 
well-known  hiding-place.  Hero,  the  cat,  had  a 
dainty  piece  of  fried  liver  neatly  done  up  in 
.paraffine  paper,  and  created  considerable  diver- 
sion in  her  efforts  to  remove  the  paper,  while 
Leander  caused  no  little  amusement  by  striving 
to  remove  the  paper  from  his  package  of  catnip, 
and  at  the  same  time  roll  upon  it. 

And  so  we  will  leave  them,  these  happy,  well- 
cared-for  pets,  only  stopping  long  enough  to 
take  a  peep  at  the  birds  up  in  Denise's  bedroom, 
which  were  enjoying  their  Christmas  gifts  of 
celery  and  hemp  seeds,  and  the  bunnies  revel- 
ing in  a  feast  of  parsley  and  carrots. 

Some  day  you  will,  perhaps,  wish  to  learn 
more  of  their  pranks,  but  now,  since  the  story 

288 


CHRISTMAS    FOR    ALL 

ends  at  the  blessed  Christmas  season,  I  must 
wish  you  all  a  Merry  Christmas,  and  let  you 
bid  farewell  to  this  second  story  of  Denise  and 
her  pets. 


[the  end] 


289 


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